Foppery

thumb|upright Foppery is a pejorative term describing a foolish man overly concerned with his appearance and clothes in 17th century England. Some of the very many similar alternative terms are: "coxcomb", fribble, "popinjay" (meaning "parrot"), fashion-monger, and "ninny". "Macaroni" was another term, of the 18th century, more specifically concerned with fashion. A modern-day fop may also be a reference to a foolish person who is overly concerned about his clothing and incapable of engaging in intellectual conversations, activities or thoughts. Quotes 'Tis mean for empty praise of wit to write,As fopplings grin to snow their teeth are white. Tom Brown (1662–1704) Essay on Satire, Stanza 2. Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 286-87. I marched the lobby, twirled my stick, * * * * *The girls all cried, "He's quite the kick." George Colman the Younger (1762–1836), Broad Grins, Song, Stanza 1. Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 286-87. Of all the fools that pride can boast,A Coxcomb claims distinction most. John Gay, Fables (1727), Part II. Fable 5. A beau is one who arranges his curled locks gracefully, who ever smells of balm, and cinnamon; who hums the songs of the Nile, and Cadiz; who throws his sleek arms into various attitudes; who idles away the whole day among the chairs of the ladies, and is ever whispering into some one's ear; who reads little billets-doux from this quarter and that, and writes them in return; who avoids ruffling his dress by contact with his neighbour's sleeve, who knows with whom everybody is in love; who flutters from feast to feast, who can recount exactly the pedigree of Hirpinus. What do you tell me? is this a beau, Cotilus? Then a beau, Cotilus, is a very trifling thing. Martial, Epigrams (c. 80-104 AD), Book III, Epigram 6. Nature made every fop to plague his brother,Just as one beauty mortifies another. Alexander Pope (1688–1744), Satire IV, line 258. Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 286-87. A lofty cane, a sword with silver hilt,A ring, two watches, and a snuff box gilt. Recipe "To Make a Modern Fop" (c. 1770). Quotes reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations (1922), p. 286-87. This is the excellent foppery of the world. William Shakespeare, King Lear (1608), Act I, scene 2, line 128. A fop? In this brave, licentious ageTo bring his musty morals on the stage?Rhime us to reason? and our lives redressIn metre, as Druids did the savages. Sir Samuel Tuke, The Adventures of Five Hours (1663), Act V. Has death his fopperies? Edward Young, Night Thoughts (1742-1745), Night II, line 231. External links foppery Category:Clothing