Cuckoomaiden

/ˈkʌkuːˌmeɪ.dən/ noun

Definition

An archaic or obsolete term, likely a variant of cuckoomaid or possibly a female character associated with cuckoo birds or foolishness.

Etymology

Compound of 'cuckoo' + 'maiden'; shares the same uncertain etymology as cuckoomaid, appearing in early modern texts but with unclear meaning or usage.

Kelly Says

Some words vanish from language almost completely, leaving only whispers in old dictionaries—cuckoomaiden is one of these ghost words that nobody uses anymore, but its existence shows how much English vocabulary has changed.

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