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Cuckoo
(Cuck"oo) n. [OE. coccou, cukkow, F. coucou, prob. of imitative origin; cf. L. cuculus, Gr.
Skr. kkia, G. kuckuk, D. koekoek.] (Zoöl.) 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 (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 (Zoöl.), a long-tailed pigeon of the genus Macropygia. Many species inhabit
the East Indies. — Cuckoo fish (Zoöl.), the European red gurnard The name probably alludes to the
sound that it utters. — Cuckoo falcon (Zoöl.), any falcon of the genus Baza. The genus inhabits
Africa and the East Indies. — Cuckoo maid (Zoöl.), the wryneck; — called also cuckoo mate. — Cuckoo
ray (Zoöl.), a British ray — 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)
(Zoöl.) 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.
Cuckoobud
(Cuck"oo*bud") n. (Bot.) A species of Ranunculus (R. bulbosus); — called also butterflower,
buttercup, kingcup, goldcup. Shak.
Cuckooflower
(Cuck"oo*flow`er) n. (Bot.) A species of Cardamine (C. pratensis), or lady's smock. Its
leaves are used in salads. Also, the ragged robin
Cuckoopint
(Cuck"oo*pint`) n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Arum (A. maculatum); the European wake-
robin.
Cucquean
(Cuc"quean`) n. [Cuckold + quean.] A woman whose husband is unfaithful to her. [Obs.]
Cucujo
(||Cu*cu"jo) n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) The fire beetle of Mexico and the West Indies.
Cucullate
(Cu"cul*late) Cucullated
(Cu"cul*la`ted) a. [LL. cullatus, fr. L. cucullus a cap, hood. See
Cowl a hood.]
1. Hooded; cowled; covered, as with a hood. Sir T. Browne.
2. (Bot.) Having the edges toward the base rolled inward, as the leaf of the commonest American blue
violet.
3. (Zoöl.) (a) Having the prothorax elevated so as to form a sort of hood, receiving the head, as in
certain insects. (b) Having a hoodlike crest on the head, as certain birds, mammals, and reptiles.
Cuculoid
(Cu"cu*loid) a. [L. cuculus a cuckoo + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the cuckoos
Cucumber
(Cu"cum*ber) n.[OE. cucumer, cocumber, cucumber, fr. L. cucmis, gen. cucumeris; cf.
OF. cocombre,F. concombre.] (Bot.) A creeping plant, and its fruit, of several species of the genus
Cucumis, esp. Cucumis sativus, the unripe fruit of which is eaten either fresh or picked. Also, similar
plants or fruits of several other genera. See below.
Bitter cucumber (Bot.), the Citrullus or Cucumis Colocynthis. See Colocynth. — Cucumber beetle.
(Zoöl.) (a) A small, black flea- beetle which destroys the leaves of cucumber, squash, and melon vines.
(b) The squash beetle. — Cucumber tree. (a) A large ornamental or shade tree of the genus Magnolia
(M. acuminata), so called from a slight resemblance of its young fruit to a small cucumber. (b) An East
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