cuckold

American  

[kuhk-uhld] / ˈkʌk əld /

noun

1. the husband of an unfaithful wife.

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verb (used with object)

1. to make a cuckold of (a husband).

cuckold British  

/ ˈkʌkəld /

noun

1. a man whose wife has committed adultery, often regarded as an object of scorn

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verb

1. (tr) to make a cuckold of

Other Word Forms

• cuckoldly adverb
• cuckoldry noun

Etymology

Origin of cuckold

1200–50; Middle English cukeweld, later cok ( k ) ewold, cukwold < Anglo-French *cucuald (compare Middle French cucuault ), equivalent to Old French cocu cuckoo + -ald, -alt pejorative suffix ( ribald ); apparently originally applied to an adulterer, in allusion to the cuckoo's habit of laying its eggs in other birds' nests

Example Sentences

And as Martin, Whishaw is as Britishly brittle-yet-vulnerable as only he can be, the stoic, sad-eyed cuckold trying to rise above and move on from the fray.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 2, 2023

His affinity for theatrical misdirection and mystery was acknowledged by his friend, the playwright Anthony Shaffer, who based the cunningly vengeful cuckold in his play “Sleuth” partly on Mr. Sondheim.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2021

And Anderson stalwarts Murray and Jason Schwartzman own their roles as, respectively, a cuckold dad and a power-mad camp counselor, but they remain on the periphery, like wandering jesters.

From Slate • May 24, 2012

Samuel Barnett as the helpless cuckold, Vanessa Kirby as the tricked Isabella, Richard Lintern as the Mussolinesque Duke and Andrew Woodall as a sly courtier also give good, well-defined performances.

From The Guardian • Apr. 27, 2010

From thence it fled forth, and made quick transmigration To goldy-lock'd Euphorbus, who was killed in good fashion, At the siege of old Troy, by the cuckold of Sparta.

From Volpone; Or, the Fox by Jonson, Ben

Related Words

• cuck