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

As it is, Affleck is left with little to play but a sorry, perpetually glum cuckold.

From New York Times • Mar. 17, 2022

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

That cuckold lives in bliss   Who certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;   But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er   Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves!

From Quit Your Worrying! by James, George Wharton

Related Words

• cuck