Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
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First published 1952 (SND Vol. III). Includes material from the 2005 supplement.
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
CUCKOO, Cucoo, n. Sc. usages in combs. (chiefly plant-names), many of which are also found in Eng. dial. (see E.D.D.).
1. cuckoo cheese-an'-breid, “leaves and flowers of wood-sorrel” (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); 2. cuckoo-flower, (1) anemone (Ib.); known to Ags.17 1941; (2) wood-sorrel (Ib.); 3. cuckoo-hood, the cornflower, Centaurea cyanus (Sc. 1886 B. and H. 134); 4. cuckoo-meat, = 1 (Rxb. 1923 Watson W.-B.); cf. gowk's meat s.v. Gowk, n.; 6. (11); cuc(k)oo-sorrel, “wood sorrel, Oxalis acetosella” (Uls. 1880 W. H. Patterson Gl. Ant. and Dwn.); 6. cuckoo's-spittens, = Eng. cuckoo-spit (Bnff.2, Abd.9, Ags.17, Fif.10 1941).4. sm.Sc. 1988 W. A. D. and D. Riach A Galloway Glossary :
cuckoo meat sorrel.5. s.Sc. 1859 D. Anderson in J. Watson Bards of Border 140:
The rose, the rasp, the trailing brier, And cucoo sorrel mantle thee.6. Sc. 1879 Folk-Lore Record II. 81:
The . . . cuckoo's-spittens . . . or wood sear of Eng. and Sc. is a froth discharged by the young froghoppers.
