cucking-stool 
or a defaulting Im i i m- baker, was placed, to 
In- hooted at or pelted by the mob. Tin- ,.<-.>/ 
Kliml linn IM-CIL frri(Hently ciuif"imilfil with tlir ilin-ktn-i 
ttiuil; lint the former did Dot ol lt*U admit "f tliedm-kini: 
of ItsiH-rujiarit, iilthiiitKh in conjunction witli the timiluvl 
It was Mim. times used for that purpose. 
I had iM-en tycd to silence, 
I should have beem- worthy the r.-* iu-i xloole ere this 
time. itar*li,iniii>/ llnrktnl, Insatiate (.'ountru, ii. 
'I h.'sr. iiHiuiitctl ill a chair-curule, 
U hich muilcni.s call .t MMMNff*fteo(, 
March pnniilly t'i tin- rivi-r Hide. 
N. Hull,',-, llndibriu, II. Ii. 740. 
cuckle, n. A corrupt dialectal form 
cuckold 1 (kuk'old), n. [Early mod. E. also 
1'iickicolit, cockward, cokward, etc. ; < ME. co- 
kolde, cokewold, cockewold, kukwald, kukewcld, 
etc., with excrescent -d, < OF. coucuol, couquiol, 
mod. P. cocu. = Pr. cugol, a cuckold, lit. a 
cuckoo (so called with opprobrious allusion to 
the cuckoo's habit of depositing her eggs in 
the nests of other birds), < L. cuculus, a cuckoo: 
see ru<-k<i<>.] 1. A man whose wife is false In 
him ; the husband of an adulteress. 2. A book- 
name of the cow-bird, Molothrus ater : so called 
from its parasitic and polygamous habits. [U. 
S.] 3. A name of the cow-fish, Ostracion qua- 
dricorne : apparently so called from its horns. 
See cow-fish (c). 
cuckold 1 ' (kuk'old), c. t. [< ci.di.-oMl. .] To 
dishonor by adultery: said of a wife or her 
paramour. 
If thou canst cuckold him, tliou dost thyself a pleasure, 
me a sport. Shak., Othello, i. 3. 
But sutfer not thy wife abroad to roam, 
Nor strut in streets with Amazonian pace ; 
For that's to cuckold thee before thy face. 
Dryden, tr. of Juvenal's Satires. 
cuckold- (kuk'old), n. A corrupt form of 
cockle^. 
CUCkoldize (kuk'ol-diz), . /.; pret. and pp. 
cuckoldized, ppr. cuckoldizing. [< cuckold 1 + 
-ize.~\ To make a cuckold. 
Can dry bones live ? or skeletons produce 
The vital warmth of cuckoldizintf juice? 
Dryden, Abs. and Achit., ii. 339. 
cuckoldly (kuk'old-li), a. [< cuckold + -ly 1 .] 
Having the qualities of a cuckold. 
Poor cuckoldly knave ! Shak., M. W. of W., Ii. 2. 
cuckold-maker (kuk'61d-ma*k6r), n. One who 
commits adultery with another man's wife. 
CUCkoldom (kuk'ol-dum), n. [< cuckold 1 + 
-<lom.] The state of being a cuckold ; cuckolds 
collectively. 
Thinking of nothing but her dear colonel, and conspir- 
ing cucltoldoin against me. Dryden, Spanish Friar, iv. 1. 
cuckoldry (kuk'old-ri), . [< cuckold 1 + -ry.] 
Adultery ; adultery as 
affecting the honor of the 
husband. 
They have got out of Chris- 
tendom into the land what 
shall I call it? of cuckoldry 
the rtopia of gallantry, where 
pleasure is duty, and the man- 
ners perfect freedom. 
Lamb, Elia, p. 240. 
cuckold' s-knot (kuk '- 
61dz-not), n. Naut., a 
loop made in a rope by 
crossing the two parts 
and seizing them toge- 
ther. 
CUckold'8-neck (kuk'oldz-nek), n. 
cuckold's-kiiot. 
cuckoo (kuk'S), . [Early mod. E. also cuckoe, 
cuckoie ; < ME. cucko, cukkow, cocow, cockou.eoc- 
cou, in earliest form cuccu (partly from OF.), 
= MD. Icockock, kockkock, kuyckuck, Tcuyckkuyck, 
D. kockoek = North Fries, kukuut = OLQ. cuc- 
fiii; MLG. kuckuck, kitkiik, LG. kuckuck, kukuk = 
MHG. cukuk, also gukiik, gukuck, gukguk, gug- 
(/iik, Q. kuckuck, kuckuk, guckguck, usually fci- 
kiil; = Dan. kukker = Sw. )cuku (the Teut. forms 
being partly conformed to the L. and Rom.) ; = 
OF. rum-nil, cocu, F. coucou = Pr. cogul (cf. CO- 
CMC, the cuckoo's cry) = Sp. CMCO, also dim. cu- 
clillo, = Pg. CMCO = It. CMCCO, also cticolo, cuculo, 
cucuglin, coccolo, < ML. cucus, L. only in dim. 
form cuculus, a cuckoo (cf . L. cucus, a daw) ; = 
Gr. xci/i/iiif (see coccyx), MGr. /toS/cof, NGr. KOVKO ; 
= W. cwcw, also cog, = Gael. Ir. cuach, also 
i-nhling; = OBulg. kukaritsa = Serv. kuktiritwi, 
= Bohem. kukachka = Pol. kiikitlkit = Russ. it- 
kiixlikn = Albanian kukateitse (cf. Russ. kxkovati, 
cry as a cuckoo, kukati, murmur, = Bohem. 
Serv. kukati = Litli. kniikti = Lett, kaukt, 
howl); = Skt. bikila (> Hind, kokih, kokla), a 
cuckoo; cf. Hind, kuk, the cry of a cuckoo or 
k. knku, the cooing of a dove, koko, a 
Cuckold's-knot. 
Same as 
1387 
crow ; also found in older Teut. form (OHG. 
MHG. youch.d. i/ii iii-li = AS. gedc = Ivel.yaukr, 
> E. gou-k, a cuckoo: see gowk) and in many 
other tongues, in various forms of the type ku- 
ku, being a direct imitation of the characteristic 
cry of the bird. A similar imitation occurs also 
in coo, cook'-*, cock 1 , caic, etc. (see these words). 
The forms, being imitative, do not conform close- 
ly to the rules of historical development. In ear- 
ly superstitious the cuckoo was regarded as of 
evil omen, and enters into various imprecations 
and proverbs as an embodiment of the devil. 
It was also a term of reproach or contempt 
equivalent to fool (cf. gowk, in similar use), and 
with reference to its habit of laying its eggs in 
other birds' nests is the subject of endless al- 
lusion in early literature: see cuckold 1 .] 1. A 
bird of the family Cuculidce, and especially of 
the subfamily Cuculinai or genus Cuculus: so 
called from its characteristic note. The common 
cuckoo of Europe is Cuculux canorut, about 14 Inchen 
long, with zygodactyl feet, broad rounded tail, curved 
Cucujus 
Harloeks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-llomri. 
Skat., Lear, Iv. 4 
2. Now, more generally, the lady's-smock, Car- 
damine pratensis. 
By the mewiow-trenchel blow the faint sweet cuckoo-flav- 
in. Teanyton, May (<ileen. 
cuckoo-fly (kuk'ii-fli), n. 1. A name of sundry 
parasitic hymeuopterous insects, as the ('Itryitix 
amuy 
Common Cuckoo ( Cuculus canerus). 
bill, and ashy plumage varied with black and white. It 
is notorious for its parasitism, having the habit common 
to many birds of the family of depositing its eggs in the 
nests of other birds, chiefly smaller than itself, and caus- 
ing its young to be reared by the foster-parents a con- 
dition generally entailing the destruction of their own 
progeny. The remarkable cries which have given the bird 
imitative names in many languages are the love-notes, 
uttered only during the mating season. The species 
of cuckoos are very numerous, and are found in most 
parts of the world ; they are not all parasitic. There are 
several subfamilies of ('m-i'tiili'-. and many genera. (See 
Cticulidce.) The American or tree-cuckoos are arlioricole, 
not parasitic, and are confined to America ; they are also 
called hook-billed cuckoos, a term not of special perti- 
nence. The ground-cuckoos are American birds of terres- 
trial habit*. The crested cuckoos are old-world forms, as 
are also the coucals, lark-heeled or spur-heeled cuckoos, 
also called pheasant-cuckoos. 
The cuckoo builds not for himself. Shak., A. and C., U. . 
2. A simpleton; a fool: used in jest or con- 
tempt, like the ultimately related gowk. 
Prince. Why, what a rascal art thou, then, to praise 
him so for running ! 
Falstaff. A' horseback, ye cuckoo! but afoot, he will 
not budge a foot. SAat., 1 Hen. IV., II. 4. 
Hornblll cuckoo. Same as channelbUl. 
cuckoo-ale (kuk'8-al), n. A provision of ale or 
strong beer formerly drunk in the spring of the 
year. The signal 
for broaching it 
seems to have 
been the first cry 
of the cuckoo. 
cuckoo-bee (kuk'- 
8-be), . A bee 
of the family Apt- 
da:, and of a group 
variously called 
Cuculince or No- 
madte, represent- 
ed by the genus 
Nomada. The cuck- 
oo-bees are richly 
colored, and make no 
nest, depositing their 
eggs in the nests of 
other bees, whence 
their name. The larvee on emerging devour the food des- 
tined for the proper occupants of the nest, which often 
starve to death. 
cuckoo-budt (kuk'6-bud), n. Probably a bud of 
the cowslip or the buttercup: only in Shakspere. 
Cuckoo -b utU of yellow hue. Shak., L. L. L., v. 2 (song). 
CUCkoo-dove (kuk'6-duv), . A dove of the ge- 
nus Macropygia (which see). 
cuckoo-fish (kuk'o-fish), . 1. A Cornish name 
of the striped wrasse. 2. An English name of 
the boar-fish. 
cuckoo-flower (kuk'o-flou'er), n. 1. In old 
works, the ragged-robin, Lychnis Flos-cuculi. 
Cuckoo-bee (Ctxlioxys /txana). (Cross 
shows natural size.) 
, of the famuy Chrysidid<f. 2. pi. A gen- 
eral name of the pupivorous ichneumon-flies, 
the females of which deposit their eggs in the 
larvae or pupee of other insects. 
cuckoo-grass (kuk'6-gras), n. A grass-like 
rush, L:ttla cmnpestria, flowering at the time 
of the cuckoo's song. 
cuckoo-gurnard (kuk'8-ger'nard), n. An Eng- 
lish name of the Trigla cuculus. 
cuckoo-pint (kuk'o-piut), . K ME. cokkui>yn- 
tel. coke-pintfl (also gauk-, gokko-, gek-pintel), < 
coicku, etc. (or gek, etc., < AS. gedc: see gowk), 
cuckoo (in allusion to the fact that the cuckoo 
and the plant appear in spring together), + pin- 
tel, a coarse word, descriptive of the spaulx.] 
The wake-robin, Arum mactilatum. 
The root of the cuckoo-pint was frequently scratched out 
of the dry batiks of hedges [by birds), and eaten In severe 
snowy weather. Gilbert White, Nat. Hist, of rtelborne, xv. 
CUCkoo's-bread (kuk'Sz-bred), . [ML. panis 
cuculi; F. pain <le coucou: so called from its 
blossoming at the season when the cuckoo's cry 
is heard.] The wood-sorrel, Oxalis Acetosella. 
Also called cuckoo's-meat. 
cuckoo-shell (kuk'6-shel), n. A local name at 
Youghal, Ireland, of the whelk, Buccinum un- 
ilntum. 
cuckoo-Shrike (kuk'o-shrik), . A bird of the 
family Campoplutgida:. Also called caterpillar- 
catcher. 
cuckoo's-maid (kuk'Oz-mad), . Same as cuck- 
oo's-mate. 
cuckoo's-mate (kuk'oz-mat), n. A local Eng- 
lish name of the wryneck, Yunx torquilla, from 
its appearing in spring about the same time as 
the cuckoo. 
cuckoo's-meat (kuk'oz-met), n. Same as evck- 
oo's-brcad. 
cuckoo-spit, cuckoo-spittle (kuk ' o - spit, 
-spit'l), M. 1. A froth or spume secreted by 
sundry homopterous insects, as the common 
frog-hopper, Aphrophora or Ptyelus spumarius. 
Also called froth-spit. 
In the middle of May you will see, in the joints of rose- 
mary, thistles, and almost all the larger weeds, a white 
fermented froth, which the country-people call Cuckrou*'* 
Spit ; in these the eggs of the grasshopper are deposited. 
/. H alton. Complete Angler, p. 73, note. 
2. An insect which secretes a froth or spume, 
as a frog-hopper : called in full cuckoo-spit frog- 
hopper. 
cuckqueant (kuk'kwen), . [Also written cue- 
quean, cuckqucane; < cuck(old) + quean; prob. 
as a modification of cotquean.] A woman whose 
husband is false to her : correlative to cuckold. 
Celia shall be no cucktjueaiif, my heire no Itegger. 
Martian, What you Will, iii. 1. 
Cucquean Juno's fury. Quarle*, Emblems, i. 5. 
CUCk-StOOlt (kuk'stol), n. [< ME. cuekestoole, 
kukstole, etc. : see cucking-stool.] Same as cuck- 
ing-stool. 
cucciueant, n. See cuckquean. 
cucujid (ku'ku-jid), . A beetle of the family 
< 'ucujidte. 
Cucujidae (ku-ku'ji-de), n. pi. [NL., < CUCIIJHX 
+ -ida;.] A family of clavicoru Coleoptera or 
beetles. The 
dorsal segments 
of the abdomen 
are partly mem- 
branous ; the 
ventral segmenU 
are free ; the tar- 
si are 5- joint- 
ed ; the mentuin 
U moderate or 
small ; the jialpi 
are approximate 
at the base ; the 
anterior coxae are 
re nmilcd or oval, cutujus 
and not pnuni- . larva; , beetle (lines show natural riiesl : 
MM ; the poste- -. r. enlarged back and side views of anal joint 
rior coxa; are not <* >"" ; rf . bcmO. enlarged. 
snlcate and are 
separated ; the ventral seiniients are sul>equal : and the 
middle coxal cavities open externally. The Cttrujidat are 
mostly small, dark-mi. irnl in-Hlr*. living under bark or 
In decaying wood : some, however, infest food-stuffs, espe- 
ri;illy those of a farinaceous character. The family has 
lieen divided into Patiandrina, Cucujintr, Hemipepliiue, 
lln'iiiitiiiir. and SitlpaniiUf. 
Cucujus (ku'ku-jus), w. [NL. ; of S. Amer. 
origin.] The typical genus of the family Cu- 
cujidtr, having the first tarsal joints very short. 
