Origin of the term "cocktail"

Factual Questions
1

What is the origin of the term “cocktail” for an alcoholic drink?

2

From etymonline.com:

3

Mencken’s etymologies appear as a footnote in his book The American Language, and an interesting read it is. Besides the one quoted above, he also lists:

1.) It comes from “cock bread ale”, shortened to “cock(t)ale”, a drink made for fighting cocks, t which bread was added.

2.) in 1777 Betsy Flanagan, a barmaid at a tavern in Dobbs’ Ferry, N.Y., garnished a drink with cock feathers and toasted the defeat of the British, saying “Vive le cock tail!”

I don’t recall him having as many as seven, but I could easily be wrong. I know I’ve heard others elsewhere.

Here’s wiki’s take on it:

Here’s a reproduction of the first known mention from the Museum of the American Cocktail (I kid you not):

http://www.museumoftheamericancocktail.org/museum/TheBalance.html

4

I ask women I meet if they like cocktails and if they do I tell them a few.

5

This Staff Report by Gaudere may be of interest: What’s the origin of “cocktail”?

6

My mother was raised by very strict Southern Baptists. On one of her first dates (around 1949 or so) her date asked if she would care for a shrimp cocktail. She replied “No, thank you. I don’t drink.”.

7

Here is the Word Detective’s entry.