cuckoo

[koo-koo, kook-oo]

noun

plural

cuckoos 

1. a common European bird, Cuculus canorus, of the family Cuculidae, noted for its characteristic call and its brood parasitism.

2. any of several other birds of the family Cuculidae.

3. the call of the cuckoo, or an imitation of it.

4. Slang.,  a crazy, silly, or foolish person; simpleton.

verb (used without object)

cuckooed, cuckooing 

1. to utter the call of the cuckoo or an imitation of it.

verb (used with object)

cuckooed, cuckooing 

1. to repeat monotonously.

adjective

1. Slang.,  crazy; silly; foolish.

2. of, relating to, or like a cuckoo.

cuckoo

/ ˈkʊkuː /

noun

1. any bird of the family Cuculidae, having pointed wings, a long tail, and zygodactyl feet: order Cuculiformes. Many species, including the European cuckoo ( Cuculus canorus ), lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and have a two-note call

2. informal,  an insane or foolish person

adjective

1. informal,  insane or foolish

interjection

1. an imitation or representation of the call of a cuckoo

verb

1. (tr) to repeat over and over

2. (intr) to make the sound imitated by the word cuckoo

Word History and Origins

Origin of cuckoo¹

1200–50; Middle English cuc ( c ) u, cuccuk ( e ) (imitative); compare Latin cucūlus, French coucou, German Kuckuk, Dutch koekoek, Modern Greek koûko

Word History and Origins

Origin of cuckoo¹

C13: from Old French cucu, of imitative origin; related to German kuckuck, Latin cucūlus, Greek kokkux

Idioms and Phrases

see cloud-cuckoo land.

Example Sentences

That meant Lady Constance had eight full cuckoos to build up a head of steam.

Read more on Literature

“No offense, but this is all a little cuckoo for my taste,” Gibby said.

Read more on Literature

The estate is home to rare wildlife, including curlew, mountain bumblebees, lapwings, red squirrels, cuckoo and merlin, as well as Atlantic salmon and critically endangered eels, but the conservationists say nature could be richer still.

Read more on BBC

Like everyone in the movie, he sounds confident and totally cuckoo.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“The cuckoo clock, the Dutch door, the daylight basement — humble horsemen of the domestic Apocalypse. The VWs, parked in the driveway.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times