cuculus
See also: Cuculus
Latin
cucūlus (a cuckoo)
Etymology
Echoic of the male bird's mating cry, similar to English cuckoo, Ancient Greek κόκκυξ (kókkux), Middle Irish cuach, Polish kukułka, Sanskrit कोकिल (kokila), Finnish kukkua.
Pronunciation
- (Classical) IPA(key): /kuˈkuː.lus/, [kʊˈkuː.ɫʊs]
Noun
cucūlus m (genitive cucūlī); second declension
- cuckoo (bird)
- a term of reproach (specifically a cuckold)
Inflection
Second declension.
| Case | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | cucūlus | cucūlī |
| Genitive | cucūlī | cucūlōrum |
| Dative | cucūlō | cucūlīs |
| Accusative | cucūlum | cucūlōs |
| Ablative | cucūlō | cucūlīs |
| Vocative | cucūle | cucūlī |
Related terms
- cucus
Descendants
- Asturian: cuquiellu
- French: coucou
- Italian: cuculo
- Norman: coucou
References
- cuculus in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- cuculus in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire Illustré Latin-Français, Hachette