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Webster 1913 Edition
Cuckoo
Cuck′oo
(koŏk′oō)
, Noun.
[OE.
coccou
, cukkow
, F. coucou
, prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. cuculus
, Gr. [GREEK][GREEK][GREEK][GREEK], Skr. k[GREEK]ki[GREEK]a
, G. kuckuk
, D. koekoek
.] (Zool.)
A bird belonging to
Cuculus
, Coccyzus
, and several allied genera, of many species. ☞ The European cuckoo (
Cuculus canorus
) builds no nest of its own, but lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, to be hatched by them. The American yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus Americanus
) and the black-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus erythrophthalmus
) build their own nests. Cuckoo clock
, a clock so constructed that at the time for striking it gives forth sounds resembling the cry of the cuckoo.
– Cuckoo dove
(Zool.)
, a long-tailed pigeon of the genus
– Macropygia
. Many species inhabit the East Indies. Cuckoo fish
(Zool.)
, the European red gurnard (
– Trigla cuculus
). The name probably alludes to the sound that it utters. Cuckoo falcon
(Zool.)
, any falcon of the genus
– Baza
. The genus inhabits Africa and the East Indies. Cuckoo maid
(Zool.)
, the wryneck; – called also
– cuckoo mate
. Cuckoo ray
(Zool.)
, a British ray (
– Raia miraletus
). Cuckoo spit
, or Cuckoo spittle
(a)
A frothy secretion found upon plants, exuded by the larvae of certain insects, for concealment; – called also
toad spittle
and frog spit
. (b)
(Zool.)
A small hemipterous insect, the larva of which, living on grass and the leaves of plants, exudes this secretion. The insects belong to
– Aphrophora
, Helochara
, and allied genera. Ground cuckoo
, the chaparral cock.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cuckoo
CUCKOO
,Noun.
Definition 2024
cuckoo
cuckoo
English
Adjective
cuckoo (comparative more cuckoo, superlative most cuckoo)
Noun
cuckoo (plural cuckoos)
- Any of various birds, of the family Cuculidae, famous for laying its eggs in the nests of other species; but especially the common cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, that has a characteristic two-note call.
- The sound of that particular bird.
- The bird shaped figure found in Swiss/German clocks (cuckoo clocks) or the clock itself.
- Someone found where they shouldn't be (used especially in the phrase a cuckoo in the nest).
- Someone who is crazy.
Related terms
- cuckoo clock
- cuckoo dove
- cuckoo shrike
- cuckoo's egg
- cloud-cuckoo-land
- cuculine (rare)
- cuckoo sign
Translations
the bird
|
|
the sound
someone crazy
Verb
cuckoo (third-person singular simple present cuckoos, present participle cuckooing, simple past and past participle cuckooed)
- To make the call of a cuckoo
- To repeat something incessantly
Translations
to make the call of a cuckoo