Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CUCK'OO, n. [L. cuculus; Gr. κοκκυξ; Fr. coucou; Arm. coucouq; Sax. geac; Dan. giög; Sw. gök; W. cog; D. koekoek; G. kuckuck; Sp. cuco or cuclillo; It. cucolo. 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.