Cuckoo

Easton's Bible Dictionary

(Heb. shahaph), from a root meaning "to be lean; slender." This bird is mentioned only in Lev. 11:16 and Deut. 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."

Related Words

Cuckoo
·noun A bird belonging to Cuculus, Coccyzus, and several allied genera, of many species. ...

Webster's Dictionary of the English Language
cuckoo
n. common English bird-name.The Australian birds to which it is applied are – – Black-eared Cuckoo ...

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
Cuckoo
(Leviticus 11:16; 14:15) the name of some of the larger petrels which abound in the east of the Medi...

William Smith's Bible Dictionary
cuckoo-shrike
n. This combination of twocommon English bird-names is assigned in Australia to thefollowing – – Bar...

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
pheasant-cuckoo
n. another name for the Coucal (q.v.), Centropus phasianellus, Gould.See also Swamp-Pheasant. 1846...

Dictionary of Australasian Words Phrases and Usages by Edward E. Morris
sea-cuckoo
The Trigla cuculus, or red gurnard, so called from the unmusical grunt which it emits. ...

The Sailor's Word-Book