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coax

Etymology and origin of the English word coax

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: /koʊks/; /kəʊks/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

It comes from the obsolete verb cokes “to make a fool of”,[2][3][4][5] from the noun cokes “fool, simpleton” (1567),[2][3][6][4] which is of uncertain origin.[3][6] Random House suggests it is a variant of coxcomb,[5] and Etymonline mentions a possible link with cock.[6] The spelling coax appears in 1706.[3]

Earliest recorded meaning

To pet, fondle or coddle (1586).[3][7][4]

Semantic evolution

Early senses were to make a fool of someone and to fondle or pet,[7][4] both now obsolete.[7][4] The OED suggests the verb was in vulgar use long before it was written down, so the order of first records may not follow the sense development.[6] The sense of persuading by soft words and flattery appeared in 1663,[3][7] and that of guiding a thing gently into a desired state from 1841.[6][7]

Timeline

  • 1567 – cokes, a simpleton.[3]
  • 1586 – to coddle, coax up.[3][7]
  • 1589 – to pet or fondle, now obsolete.[7]
  • 1616 – to make a fool of, now obsolete.[7]
  • 1663 – to persuade by flattery.[3][7]
  • 1706 – the spelling coax.[3][7]
  • 1841 – to urge a thing by gentle means.[6][7]

Modern meaning

Verb

  1. To persuade gently by flattery or pleading; to cajole or wheedle.
  2. To get something by persistent, gentle persuasion.
  3. To handle something patiently to bring it into a desired state, as in coaxing a fire to burn.
  4. (obsolete) To fondle or caress.

Word family

  • coaxer
  • coaxingly

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Barnhart, Robert K., ed. (1995), The Barnhart Concise Dictionary of Etymology, New York: HarperCollins
  4. ^ a b c d e Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (2003), 11th ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (1999), 2nd ed., New York: Random House
  6. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
Cite this entry

“Coax.” Etymologically, 13 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/coax. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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