cuckoo
cuckoo Lexical Profile
cuckoo Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A medium-sized slender bird of the family Cuculidae, globally distributed, noted for its characteristic two-note call and the habit of some species to lay their eggs in the nests of other birds.
"We could hear the distinct call of a cuckoo echoing through the woods on the first morning of spring."
An informal term for a crazy, silly, or eccentric person.
"My uncle is a bit of a cuckoo, always inventing strange gadgets in his garage."
• adjective
Crazy, foolish, or mentally unhinged.
"After being trapped in the house for a week during the blizzard, the kids were acting completely cuckoo."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'cuccu', borrowed from Old French 'cucu', an onomatopoeic word imitating the distinctive two-note call of the bird.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.