cuckoopint - Culmiferous

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cuckoo bee n. (Zool.), a bee, parasitic in the larval stage in the nests of other bees, feeding either upon their food or larvae. They belong to the genera Nomada, Melecta, Epeolus, and others.
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cuckoo-bumblebee n. 1. a bee that is parasitic in the nests of bumblebees.
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cuckoopint, cuckoo-pint n. a common European arum (Arum maculatum) with lanceolate spathe and short purple spadix; it emerges in early spring, and is the source of a sagolike starch called arum.
Syn. -- cuckoopint, lords and ladies, lords-and-ladies, jack-in-the-pulpit, Arum maculatum.
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Cuckoobud (k??k??-b?d), n. (Bot.) A species of Ranunculus (Ranunculus bulbosus); -- called also butterflower, buttercup, kingcup, goldcup. Shak.
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Cuckooflower (-flou?r), n. (Bot.) A species of Cardamine (Cardamine pratensis), or lady's smock. Its leaves are used in salads. Also, the ragged robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi).
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Cuckoopint (-p?nt), n. (Bot.) A plant of the genus Arum (Arum maculatum); the European wake-robin.
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Cucquean (k?kkw?n), n. [Cuckold + quean.] A woman whose husband is unfaithful to her. [Obs.]
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Cucujo (k??-k??h?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) The fire beetle of Mexico and the West Indies.
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{ Cucullate (k?k?l-l?t or k?-k?ll?t), Cucullated (-l?t?d or -l?-t?d), } a. [LL. cullatus, fr. L. cucullus a cap, hood. See a hood.] 1. Hooded; cowled; covered, as with a hood. Sir T. Browne.
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2. (Bot.) Having the edges toward the base rolled inward, as the leaf of the commonest American blue violet.
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3. (Zoöl.) (a) Having the prothorax elevated so as to form a sort of hood, receiving the head, as in certain insects. (b) Having a hoodlike crest on the head, as certain birds, mammals, and reptiles.
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Cucullus (?), n.; pl. Cuculli (#). [L., a hood.] 1. (Bot.) A hood-shaped organ, resembling a cowl or monk's hood, as certain concave and arched sepals or petals.
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2. (Zoöl.) A color marking or structure on the head somewhat resembling a hood.
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Cuculoid (k?k?-loid), a. [L.cuculus a cuckoo + -oid.] (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the cuckoos (Cuculidæ).
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Cucumber (k?k?m-b?r, formerly kouk?m-b?r), n. [OE. cucumer, cocumber, cucumber, fr. L. cucmis, gen.cucumeris; cf. OF. cocombre,F. concombre.] (Bot.) A creeping plant, and its fruit, of several species of the genus Cucumis, esp. Cucumis sativus, the unripe fruit of which is eaten either fresh or picked. Also, similar plants or fruits of several other genera. See below.
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Coloq. Bitter cucumber (Bot.), the Citrullus Colocynthis syn. Cucumis Colocynthis. See . -- Coloq. Cucumber beetle. (Zoöl.) (a) A small, black flea-beetle (Crepidodera cucumeris), which destroys the leaves of cucumber, squash, and melon vines. (b) The squash beetle. -- Coloq. Cucumber tree . (a) A large ornamental or shade tree of the genus Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata), so called from a slight resemblance of its young fruit to a small cucumber. (b) An East Indian plant (Averrhoa Bilimbi) which produces the fruit known as bilimbi. -- Coloq. Jamaica cucumber , Coloq. Jerusalem cucumber , the prickly-fruited gherkin (Cucumis Anguria). -- Coloq. Snake cucumber , a species (Cucumis flexuosus) remarkable for its long, curiously-shaped fruit. -- Coloq. Squirting cucumber , a plant (Ecbalium Elaterium) whose small oval fruit separates from the footstalk when ripe and expels its seeds and juice with considerable force through the opening thus made. See . -- Coloq. Star cucumber , a climbing weed (Sicyos angulatus) with prickly fruit.
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Cucumiform (k?-k?m?-f?rm), a. [L. cucumis cucumber + -form.] Having the form of a cucumber; having the form of a cylinder tapered and rounded at the ends, and either straight or curved.
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Cucumis (k?k?--m?s), n. [L., cucumber.] (Bot.) A genus of plants including the cucumber, melon, and same kinds of gourds.
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{ Cucurbit Cucurbite } (k�kûrbĭt), n. [L. cucurbita a gourd: cf. F. cucurbite. See .] (Chem.) A vessel or flask for distillation, used with, or forming part of, an alembic; a matrass; -- originally in the shape of a gourd, with a wide mouth. See .
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Cucurbita n. the type genus of the Cucurbitaceae.
Syn. -- genus Cucurbita.
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Cucurbitaceae n. a natural family of plants including the cucumber; melon; squash; and pumpkin.
Syn. -- family Cucurbitaceae, gourd family.
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Cucurbitaceous (-bĭtāshŭs), a. [Cf. F. cucurbitacé.] (Bot.) Of, pertaining to, or resembling, a family of plants of which the cucumber, melon, and gourd are common examples.
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Cucurbitive (k?-k?rb?-t?v), a. Having the shape of a gourd seed; -- said of certain small worms.
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Cud (kŭd), n. [AS. cudu, cwudu,cwidu,cweodo, of uncertain origin; cf, G. köder bait, Icel. kviðr womb, Goth. qiþus. Cf. .] 1. That portion of food which is brought up into the mouth by ruminating animals from their first stomach, to be chewed a second time.
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Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven-footed, and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. Levit. xi. 3
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2. A portion of tobacco held in the mouth and chewed; a quid. [Low]
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3. The first stomach of ruminating beasts. Crabb.
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Coloq. To chew the cud , to ruminate; to meditate; used with of; as, to chew the cud of bitter memories.
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Chewed the thrice turned cud of wrath. Tennyson.
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Cudbear (k?db?r), n. [Also cudbeard, corrupted fr. the name of Dr. Cuthbert Gordon, a Scotchman, who first brought it into notice.] 1. A powder of a violet red color, difficult to moisten with water, used for making violet or purple dye. It is prepared from certain species of lichen, especially Lecanora tartarea. Ure.
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2. (Bot.) A lichen (Lecanora tartarea), from which the powder is obtained.
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Cudden (k?dd'n), n. [For sense 1, cf. Scot. cuddy an ass; for sense 2, see 3d .] 1. A clown; a low rustic; a dolt. [Obs.]
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The slavering cudden, propped upon his staff. Dryden.
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2. (Zoöl.) The coalfish. See 3d .
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Cuddle (kŭdd'l), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Cuddled (-d'ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Cuddling (-dlĭng).] [Prob. for couthle, fr. couth known; cf. OE. kuþþen to cuddle, or cuðlechen to make friends with. See , , .] To lie close or snug; to crouch; to nestle.
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She cuddles low beneath the brake;
Nor would she stay, nor dares she fly. Prior.
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Cuddle, v. t. To embrace closely; to fondle. Forby.
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Cuddle, n. A close embrace.
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cuddlesome cuddly adj. inviting cuddling or hugging; as, a cuddlesome baby.
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cuddling n. 1. holding close in a tender and afectionate manner.
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2. lying closely together while caressing; nestling together.
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3. foreplay without contact with the genital organs. [slang]
Syn. -- caressing, fondling, hugging, kissing, necking, petting, smooching, snuggling.
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Cuddy (-d?), n. [See . ] 1. An ass; esp., one driven by a huckster or greengrocer. [Scot.]
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2. Hence: A blockhead; a lout. Hood.
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3. (Mech.) A lever mounted on a tripod for lifting stones, leveling up railroad ties, etc. Knight.
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Cuddy (k?dd?), n. [Prob. a contraction fr. D. kajuit cabin: cf. F.cahute hut.] (Naut.) A small cabin: also, the galley or kitchen of a vessel.
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Cuddy, n. [Scot.; cf. Gael. cudaig, cudainn, or E.cuttlefish, or cod, codfish.] (Zoöl) The coalfish (Pollachius carbonarius). [Written also cudden.]
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Cudgel (k?j?l), n. [OE. kuggel; cf. G. keule club (with a round end), kugel ball, or perh. W. cogyl cudgel, or D. cudse, kuds, cudgel.] A staff used in cudgel play, shorter than the quarterstaff, and wielded with one hand; hence, any heavy stick used as a weapon.
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He getteth him a grievous crabtree cudgel and . . . falls to rating of them as if they were dogs. Bunyan.
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Coloq. Cudgel play , a fight or sportive contest with cudgels. -- Coloq. To cross the cudgels , to forbear or give up the contest; -- a phrase borrowed from the practice of cudgel players, who lay one cudgel over another when the contest is ended. -- Coloq. To take up cudgels for , to engage in a contest in behalf of (some one or something).
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Cudgel, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cudgeled or Cudgelled (-�ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Cudgeling or cudgelling.] To beat with a cudgel.
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An he here, I would cudgel him like a dog. Shak.
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Coloq. To cudgel one's brains , to exercise one's wits.
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Cudgeler (-?r), n. One who beats with a cudgel. [Written also cudgeller.]
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Cudweed (k?dw?d), n. [Apparently fr. cud + weed, but perh. a corruption of cottonweed; or of cut weed, so called from its use as an application to cuts and chafings.] (Bot.) A small composite plant with cottony or silky stem and leaves, primarily a species of Gnaphalium, but the name is now given to many plants of different genera, as Filago, Antennaria, etc.; cottonweed.
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Cue (kū), n. [ OF. coue, coe, F. queue, fr. L. coda, cauda, tail. Cf. , , .] 1. The tail; the end of a thing; especially, a tail-like twist of hair worn at the back of the head; a queue.
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2. The last words of a play actor's speech, serving as an intimation for the next succeeding player to speak; any word or words which serve to remind a player to speak or to do something; a catchword.
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When my cue comes, call me, and I will answer. Shak.
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3. A hint or intimation.
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Give them [the servants] their cue to attend in two lines as he leaves the house. Swift.
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4. The part one has to perform in, or as in, a play.
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Were it my cueto fight, I should have known it
Without a prompter. Shak.
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5. Humor; temper of mind. [Colloq.] Dickens.
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6. A straight tapering rod used to impel the balls in playing billiards.
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Cue, v. t. To form into a cue; to braid; to twist.
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Cue, n. [From q, an abbreviation for quadrans a farthing.] A small portion of bread or beer; the quantity bought with a farthing or half farthing. [Obs.]
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☞ The term was formerly current in the English universities, the letter q being the mark in the buttery books to denote such a portion. Nares.
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Hast thou worn
Gowns in the university, tossed logic,
Sucked philosophy, eat cues? Old Play.
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Cuerpo (kwẽrp�), n. [Sp. cuerpo, fr. L. corpus body. See .] The body. dale a tu cuerpo alegria, Macarena! (1996)
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Coloq. In cuerpo , without full dress, so that the shape of the Body is exposed; hence, naked or uncovered.
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Exposed in cuerpo to their rage. Hudibras.
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Cuesta (?), n. [Sp.] A sloping plain, esp. one with the upper end at the crest of a cliff; a hill or ridge with one face steep and the opposite face gently sloping. [Southwestern U. S.]
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Cuff (k?f), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Cuffed (k�ft); p. pr. & vb. n. Cuffing.] [Cf. Sw. kuffa to knock, push,kufva to check, subdue, and E. cow, v. t. ] 1. To strike; esp., to smite with the palm or flat of the hand; to slap.
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I swear I'll cuff you, if you strike again. Shak.
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They with their quills did all the hurt they could,
And cuffed the tender chickens from their food. Dryden.
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2. To buffet. “Cuffed by the gale.” Tennyson.
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Cuff, v. i. To fight; to scuffle; to box.
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While the peers cuff to make the rabble sport. Dryden.
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Cuff, n. A blow; esp.,, a blow with the open hand; a box; a slap.
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Snatcheth his sword, and fiercely to him flies;
Who well it wards, and quitten cuff with cuff. Spenser.
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Many a bitter kick and cuff. Hudibras.
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Cuff, n. [Perh. from F. coiffe headdress, hood, or coif; as if the cuff were a cap for the hand. Cf. .]
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1. The fold at the end of a sleeve; the part of a sleeve turned back from the hand.
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He would visit his mistress in a morning gown, band, short cuffs, and a peaked beard. Arbuthnot.
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2. Any ornamental appendage at the wrist, whether attached to the sleeve of the garment or separate; especially, in modern times, such an appendage of starched linen, or a substitute for it of paper, or the like.
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Cuffy (k�ff�), n. A name for a negro. [Slang]
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Cufic (k?f?k), a. [So called from the town of Cufa, in the province of Bagdad.] Of or pertaining to the older characters of the Arabic language. [Written also Kufic.]
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Cui bono (?). [L.] Lit., for whose benefit; incorrectly understood, it came to be used in the sense, of what good or use; and hence, (what) purpose; object; specif., the ultimate object of life.
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Cuinage (kw?n?j), n. [Corrupted fr. coinage.] The stamping of pigs of tin, by the proper officer, with the arms of the duchy of Cornwall.
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Cuirass (kw�rȧs, or kwērăs; 277), n.; pl. Cuirasses(-ĕz). [F.cuirasse, orig., a breastplate of leather, for OF. cuirée, cuirie influenced by It. corazza, or Sp. coraza, fr. an assumed LL. coriacea, fr. L. coriaceus, adj., of leather, fr. corium leather, hide; akin to Gr. chorion intestinal membrane, OSlav. skora hide, Lith. skura hide, leather. Cf. .] 1. (a) A piece of defensive armor, covering the body from the neck to the girdle. (b) The breastplate taken by itself.
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☞ The cuirass covered the body before and behind. It consisted of two parts, a breast- and backpiece of iron fastened together by means of straps and buckles or other like contrivances. It was originally, as the name imports, made of leather, but afterward of metal. Grose.
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2. (Zoöl) An armor of bony plates, somewhat resembling a cuirass.
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Cuirassed (kw�rȧst or kwērăst), a. 1. Wearing a cuirass.
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2. (Zoöl) Having a covering of bony plates, resembling a cuirass; -- said of certain fishes.
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Cuirassier (kw?r?s-s?r), n. [F. cuirassier. See .] (Mil.) A soldier armed with a cuirass; especially, a soldier of the heaviest cavalry, wearing a cuirass only when in full dress. Milton.
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Cuir bouilli (?). [F.] In decorative art, boiled leather, fitted by the process to receive impressed patterns, like those produced by chasing metal, and to retain the impression permanently.
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Cuish (kw?s), n. [F. cuisse thigh, fr. L. coxa hip: cf. F. cuissard, OF, cuissot, armor for the thigh, cuish. Cf. .] Defensive armor for the thighs. [ Written also cuisse, and quish.]
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Cuisine (kw?z?n), n. [F., fr. L. coquina kitchen, fr. coquere to cook. See .] 1. The kitchen or cooking department.
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2. Manner or style of cooking.
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cul n. a contraction of .
Syn. -- cul de sac, deadend.
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Culasse (kul?s), n. [F., fr. cul back.] The lower faceted portion of a brilliant-cut diamond.
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Culcita n. a genus that includes some plants usually placed in e.g. genus Dicksonia; terrestrial brackenlike ferns of tropical America, Malasia to Australia and Polynesia; also native in southwestern Europe and Atlantic islands.
Syn. -- genus Culcita.
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Culicidae n. a family of insects comprising the mosquitoes.
Syn. -- family Culicidae.
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Culdee (k�l-d� or k�ld�), n. [ Prob. fr. Gael.cuilteach; cf. Ir. ceilede.] One of a class of anchorites who lived in various parts of Scotland, Ireland, and Wales.
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The pure Culdees
Were Albyn's earliest priests of God. Campbell.
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Cul-de-sac (kude-s?k or kulde-s?k), n.; pl. Culs-de-sac (ku- or kulz-). [ F., lit., bottom of a bag.]
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1. A passage with only one outlet, as a street closed at one end; a blind alley; hence, a trap.
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2. (Mil.) a position in which an army finds itself with no way of exit but to the front.
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3. (Anat.) Any bag-shaped or tubular cavity, vessel, or organ, open only at one end.
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Culerage (k?l?r-?j), n. (Bot.) See .
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Culex (?), n. [L., a gnat.] (Zoöl.) A genus of mosquitoes of the family Culicidae, to which most of the North American species belong. Some members of this genus are exceedingly annoying, as Culex sollicitans, which breeds in enormous numbers in the salt marshes of the Atlantic coast, and Culex pipiens, the common house mosquito, breeding very widely in the fresh waters of North America. (For characters distinguishing these from the malaria mosquitoes, see , above). The yellow-fever mosquito is now placed in another genus, Stegomyia. This genus formerly (ca. 1900) included the gnat as well as the mosquito.
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Culicid (?), a. [L. culex, -icis, gnat.] (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the Mosquito family (Culicidæ). -- n. A culicid insect.
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Culiciform (k?-l?si-f?rm). a. [L. culex a gnat + -form:cf. F. culiciforme.] (Zoöl.) Gnat-shaped.
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Culinarily (k?l?-n?-r?-l?), adv. In the manner of a kitchen; in connection with a kitchen or cooking.
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Culinary (k?l?-n?-r?), a. [L. culinarius, fr. culina kitchen, perh. akin to carbo coal: cf. F. culinare.] Relating to the kitchen, or to the art of cookery; used in kitchens; as, a culinary vessel; the culinary art.
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Cull (k?l), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Culled (k?ld); p. pr. & vb. n. Culling.] [OE.cullen, OF. cuillir, coillir, F.cueillir, to gather, pluck, pick, fr. L. colligere. See , v. t., and cf. .] To separate, select, or pick out; to choose and gather or collect; as, to cull flowers.
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From his herd he culls,
For slaughter, from the fairest of his bulls. Dryden.
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Whitest honey in fairy gardens culled. Tennyson.
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Cull, n. A cully; a dupe; a gull. See .
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Cullender (k?ll?n-d?r), n. A strainer. See .
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Culler (k?l?r), n. One who picks or chooses; esp., an inspector who selects wares suitable for market.
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Cullet (kŭllĕt), n. [From , v. t. ] Broken glass for remelting.
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Cullet, n. [A dim. from F. cul back.] A small central plane in the back of a cut gem. See , 3 (b).
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Cullibility (-l?-b?l?-ty), n. [From cully to trick, cheat.] Gullibility. [R.] Swift.
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Cullible (k?ll?-b'l), a. Easily deceived; gullible.
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Culling (k?l?ng), n. 1. The act of one who culls.
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2. pl. Anything separated or selected from a mass.
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Cullion (k?ly?n), n. [OF. couillon, coillon, F. co�on, a vile fellow, coward, dupe, from OF. couillon, coillon, testicle, fr. il the scrotum, fr. L. coleus a leather bag, the scrotum.] A mean wretch; a base fellow; a poltroon; a scullion. “Away, base cullions.” Shak.
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Cullionly, a. Mean; base. Shak.
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Cullis (k�ll�s), n. [OF. coleïs, F. coulis, fr. OF. & F. couler to strain, to flow, fr. L. colare to filter, strain; cf. LL. coladicium. Cf. .] A strong broth of meat, strained and made clear for invalids; also, a savory jelly. [Obs.]
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When I am exellent at caudles
And cullises . . . you shall be welcome to me. Beau. & Fl.
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Cullis, n.; pl. Cullises (-�z). [F.coulisse groove, fr. the same source as E. cullis broth.] (Arch.) A gutter in a roof; a channel or groove.
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Culls (k?lz), n. pl. [From Cull,, v. t.] 1. Refuse timber, from which the best part has been culled out.
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2. Any refuse stuff, as rolls not properly baked.
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Cully (k?ll?), n.; pl. Cullies (-l�z). [Abbrev. fr. cullion.] A person easily deceived, tricked, or imposed on; a mean dupe; a gull.
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I have learned that . . . I am not the first cully whom she has passed upon for a countess. Addison.
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Cully, v. t. [See ,n., and cf. D. kullen to cheat, gull.] To trick, cheat, or impose on; to deceive. “Tricks to cully fools.” Pomfret.
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Cullyism (-?z'm), n. The state of being a cully.
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Less frequent instances of eminent cullyism. Spectator.
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Culm (kŭlm), n. [L. culmus stalk, stem; akin to calamus. See .] (Bot.) The stalk or stem of grain and grasses (including the bamboo), jointed and usually hollow.
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Culm, n. [Perh. from W. cwlm knot or tie, applied to this species of coal, which is much found in balls or knots in some parts of Wales: cf. OE. culme smoke, soot.] (Min.) (a) Mineral coal that is not bituminous; anthracite, especially when found in small masses. (b) The waste of the Pennsylvania anthracite mines, consisting of fine coal, dust, etc., and used as fuel. Raymond.
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Culmen (k?lm?n), n. [L., fr. cellere (in comp.) to impel; cf. celsus pushed upward, lofty.] 1. Top; summit; acme. R. North.
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2. (Zoöl.) The dorsal ridge of a bird's bill.
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Culmiferous (k?l-m?f?r-?s), a. [L. culmus stalk or stem + -ferous: cf. F. culmifère.] Having jointed stems or culms.
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