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Cockaigne

noun
Cock·​aigne | \ kä-ˈkān How to pronounce Cockaigne (audio) \

Definition of Cockaigne

: an imaginary land of great luxury and ease
Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about Cockaigne

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Did You Know?

The term "Cockaigne" comes from the Middle French phrase pais de cocaigne, which literally means "the land of plenty." The word was first popularized in a 13th-century French poem that is known in English as "The Land of Cockaigne." According to an early English translation of the work, in Cockaigne "the houses were made of barley sugar cakes, the streets were paved with pastry, and the shops supplied goods for nothing." Some have theorized that cocaigne derives from an earlier word related to "cake" or "cook," but its early history remains obscure.

Examples of Cockaigne in a Sentence

many gourmets still regard Paris as a culinary Cockaigne

First Known Use of Cockaigne

13th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for Cockaigne

Middle English cokaygne, from Middle French (pais de) cocaigne land of plenty

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More from Merriam-Webster on Cockaigne

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with Cockaigne

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for Cockaigne

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