English

Proper noun

Cuca

1. An evil old hag who is a character from Brazilian folklore and is said to attack children who don't go to bed early.

English

Noun

cuca ‎(uncountable)

1. Alternative form of coca

Portuguese

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈku.ka/, /ˈku.kɐ/
• Homophone: Cuca

Etymology 1

Of uncertain origin.

Noun

cuca f (plural cucas)

1. (familiar) head

Synonyms

• cabeça, coco (familiar)

Etymology 2

From German Kuchen ‎(“cake”), from Old High German kuocho.

Noun

cuca f (plural cucas)

1. (South Brazil) Streuselkuchen (a cake of German origin made of yeast dough covered with sweet crumb topping)
   • Carlos Vieira (2005) Armazem Colombo, ISBN 978-1469952550, page 82: “Segundo o autor Alexandre de Freitas, “aparentada do stollen e do panetone, a cuca nada mais é do que um pão doce feito com massa mole e batida, onde são acrescentadas frutas secas ou frescas, no meio ou sobre a massa; […] ”.”

     According to author Alexandre de Freitas, “related to stollen and panetone, Streuselkuchen is nothing more than a sweet bread made with soft, beaten dough, to which dry or fresh fruit is added in the middle or on top of; […] ”.

Etymology 3

From English cook.

Noun

cuca m (plural cucas)

1. (humorous) a skilled cook or chef

Synonyms

• cozinheiro (any cook), mestre-cuca

Spanish

Etymology

Of onomatopoeic origin; see also Greek κόκκυξ ‎(kókkux) and Late Latin cucus.

Adjective

cuca

1. feminine singular of cuco

Noun

cuca f ‎(plural cucas)

1. chufa, earth almond, Cyperus esculentus
2. (entomology) caterpillar
3. (colloquial) woman who likes to gamble

   • mala cuca — evil person

4. (colloquial) hag she-monster, bogeywoman

Synonyms

• (caterpillar):

• oruga

• (sedge):

• alcatufa
• chufa

Derived terms

• cucaracha

See also

• Cyperus esculentus on the Spanish Wikipedia.Wikipedia ^es