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.
Quotation dates: 1859-1879, 1988
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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.
