- Cuckoo spittle
- Cuckoo Cuck"oo (k[oo^]k"[=oo]), 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.
[1913 Webster]
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 ({Coccyzus erythrophthalmus}) build their own nests. [1913 Webster]
{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. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
