Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Cuckoo?

\Cuck"oo\ (k??k"??), n. [OE. coccou, cukkow, F. coucou, prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. cuculus, Gr. ????, Skr. k?ki?a, G. kuckuk, D. koekoek.] (Zo["o]l.) A bird belonging to {Cuculus}, {Coccyzus}, and several allied genera, of many species. Note: 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 ({C. erythrophthalmus}) build their own nests. {Cuckoo bee} (Zool.), a bee, parasitic in the larval stage in the nests of other bees, feeding either upon their food or larvae. They belong to the genera {Nomada}, {Melecta}, {Epeolus}, and others. {Cuckoo clock}, a clock so constructed that at the time for striking it gives forth sounds resembling the cry of the cuckoo. {Cuckoo dove} (Zo["o]l.), a long-tailed pigeon of the genus {Macropygia}. Many species inhabit the East Indies. {Cuckoo fish} (Zo["o]l.), the European red gurnard ({Trigla cuculus}). The name probably alludes to the sound that it utters. {Cuckoo falcon} (Zo["o]l.), any falcon of the genus {Baza}. The genus inhabits Africa and the East Indies. {Cuckoo maid} (Zo["o]l.), the wryneck; -- called also {cuckoo mate}. {Cuckoo ray} (Zo["o]l.), 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) (Zo["o]l.) 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.