American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth
Edition - n. An ornament, such as a rosette or knot of ribbon,
usually worn on the hat as a badge. Century Dictionary and
Cyclopedia - n. A clasp, button, or other fastening used to
secure and hold up the cock of the hat; hence, any knot or
rosette of ribbon, leather, worsted, or other material, worn on
the hat. A badge of adherence to a cause, party, or political
league. Such were the white cockade worn in England by the
followers of the Stuarts about 1740–45 and the black cockade
worn in opposition to this by the adherents of the Hanoverian
party. In France, at the first outbreak of enthusiasm after the
meeting of the States General in 1789, cockades, at first of
green, were adopted by the party of action; the color was
afterward changed to the traditional colors of Paris, blue and
red, and to these was added the white of the house of Bourbon,
as the revolutionists were still royalists. This, according to
the common account, was the origin of the