Cocarda

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. An ornamental badge or rosette often worn in ceremonies or celebrations, symbolizing honor or allegiance
2. A decorative piece, typically made of fabric, used in fashion or military uniforms to signify rank or affiliation
3. A formal or festive emblem attached to clothing or headgear, representing pride or cultural identity

Etymology: The word's root is "coq," the French for rooster. Old French "coquard," meaning proud or vain, came from that bird, presumably for its strutting display. A "cocarde" was a showy ribbon or rosette pinned to a hat, and the name described the wearer's swagger as much as the object. The emblem became politically charged in 1789, when Parisian revolutionaries adopted a cockade in the colours of the city, a move that made hat ornaments into statements of allegiance. English adopted "cockade" from French, and the Italian and Spanish "coccarda" and "cocarda" follow the same French route. Today the term still refers to a hat rosette or badge that signals loyalty to a group, cause or nation.

Synonyms: cockade, badge, rosette, emblem, insignia