Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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.