cuckold

cuckold
{{11}}cuckold (n.) mid-13c., kukewald, from O.Fr. cucuault, from cocu (see CUCKOO (Cf. cuckoo)) + pejorative suffix -ault, of Germanic origin. So called from the female bird's alleged habit of changing mates, or her authentic habit of leaving eggs in another bird's nest. In Modern French the identity is more obvious: Coucou for the bird and cocu for the betrayed husband. Ger. Hahnrei (13c.), from Low German, is of obscure origin. The second element seems to be connected to words for "ardent," and suggests perhaps "sexually aggressive hen," with transferal to humans, but Kluge suggests rather a connection to words for "capon" and "castrated." Related: Cuckoldry.
{{12}}cuckold (v.) 1580s, from CUCKOLD (Cf. cuckold) (n.). Related: Cuckolded; cuckolding.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Cuckold — is a historic derogatory term for a man who has an unfaithful wife. The word, which has been in recorded use since the 13th century, derives from the cuckoo which gives up nurturing its own by laying eggs in other birds nests. [1] In modern terms …   Wikipedia

  • Cuckold — Cuck old, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cuckolded}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cuckolding}.] To make a cuckold of, as a husband, by seducing his wife, or by her becoming an adulteress. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Cuckold — Cuck old (k?k ?ld), n. [OE. kukeweld, cokewold, cokold, fr. OF. coucoul, cucuault, the last syllable being modified by the OE. suffix wold (see {Herald}); cf. F. cocu a cuckold, formerly also, a cuckoo, and L. cuculus a cuckoo. The word alludes… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • cuckold — ► NOUN ▪ the husband of an adulteress, regarded as an object of derision. ► VERB ▪ make (a married man) a cuckold. DERIVATIVES cuckoldry noun. ORIGIN Old French cucuault, from cucu cuckoo (from the cuckoo s habit of laying its egg in another bird …   English terms dictionary

  • cuckold — [kuk′əld] n. [ME cokewold < OFr cucuault < cucu (see CUCKOO): said to be in allusion to the female bird s habit of changing mates] a man whose wife has committed adultery vt. to make a cuckold of cuckoldry [kuk′əldrē] n …   English World dictionary

  • Cuckold — Als Cuckold (auch kurz als Cucki oder Cuck) wird vor allem in der BDSM Szene ein Mann bezeichnet, der in einer festen Partnerschaft oder Liebesbeziehung durch den intimen Kontakt seiner Partnerin mit anderen Männern (sogenanntes Fremdgehen)… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • cuckold — I UK [ˈkʌkəʊld] / US [ˈkʌˌkoʊld] noun [countable] Word forms cuckold : singular cuckold plural cuckolds old fashioned an insulting word for a man whose wife has sex with another man II UK [ˈkʌkəʊld] / US [ˈkʌˌkoʊld] verb [transitive] Word forms… …   English dictionary

  • cuckold — cuck·old (kŭk’əld, ko͝ok’ ) n. ▸ A man whose wife is unfaithful. tr.v. cuck·old·ed, cuck·old·ing, cuck·olds ▸ To make a cuckold of. ╂ [Middle English cokewald, from Anglo Norman *cucuald, from cucu, the cuckoo, from Vulgar Latin …   Word Histories

  • cuckold — 1. noun /ˈkʌk.əʊld,ˈkʌk.əld,ˈkʌk.oʊld,ˈkʌk.əld/ A man married to an unfaithful wife, especially when he is unaware or unaccepting of the fact. If I never marry, I shall never be a cuckold. 2. verb /ˈkʌk.əʊld,ˈkʌk.əld,ˈkʌk.oʊld,ˈkʌk.əld/ To make a …   Wiktionary

  • cuckold — cuck|old1 [ˈkʌkəld, ˈkʌkəuld US kəld] n old use [Date: 1200 1300; Origin: Probably from Old French cucuault, from cucu; CUCKOO1] an insulting word for a man whose wife has been having sex with another man cuckold 2 cuckold2 v [T] old use if a… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”