King James Bible Dictionary

(Heb. shahaph), from a root meaning "to be lean; slender." This bird is mentioned only in Leviticus 11:16 and Deuteronomy 14:15 (R.V., "seamew"). Some have interpreted the Hebrew word by "petrel" or "shearwater" (Puffinus cinereus), which is found on the coast of Syria; others think it denotes the "sea-gull" or "seamew." The common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) feeds on reptiles and large insects. It is found in Asia and Africa as well as in Europe. It only passes the winter in Palestine. The Arabs suppose it to utter the cry Yakub_, and hence they call it _tir el-Yakub; i.e., "Jacob's bird."

A bird, forbidden as food.
Leviticus 11:16; Deuteronomy 14:15

(Leviticus 11:16; 14:15) the name of some of the larger petrels which abound in the east of the Mediterranean.

CUCKOO, noun [Latin , Gr. See Gawk.] A bird of the genus Cuculus, whose name is supposed to be called from its note. The note is a call to love, and continued only during the amorous season. It is said the cuckoo lays its eggs in a nest formed by another bird, by which they are hatched.

CUCKOO-FLOWER, CUCKOO-BUD noun A plant, a species of Cardamine.

CUCKOO-FLOWER, CUCKOO-BUD, noun A plant, a species of Cardamine.

CUCKOO-PINT, noun A plant, of the genus Arum.

CUCKOO-SPIT, CUCKOO-SPITTLE, noun A dew or exudation found on plants, especially about the joints of lavender and rosemary. Or a froth or spume found on the leaves of certain plants, as on white field-lychnis or catch-fly, called sometimes spatling poppy.