cokkou

Middle English

Alternative forms

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French cucu, imitative of its call.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈkɔkuː/, /ˈkukuː/

Noun

cokkou (plural kockowes)

  1. The cuckoo (Cuculus canorus).
    • a. 1250, unknown, “Sumer is icumen in”‎[1]:
      Lhude sing cuccu / Groweþ sed / and bloweþ med
      Sing loudly, cuckoo! / seed grows / and fields bloom
  2. (rare) The sound a cuckoo makes.

Descendants

  • English: cuckoo
    • Welsh: cwcw
  • Scots: cuckoo
  • Middle Welsh: gwcw (blend with goke)
    • Welsh: gwcw

References