cuckoopint means A flowering plant with arrow-shaped leaves and a cluster of scarlet berries, of species Arum maculatum.
cuckoopint is pronounced /ˈku.kuˌpɪnt/.
Why “cuckoopint” is a great word
A European woodland plant, especially Arum maculatum, known for its arrow-shaped leaves, a hooded spathe, and toxic scarlet berries. Its name descends from earlier cuckoopintle, from Middle English cokkoupintel, from cokkou ('cuckoo') + pintel ('penis'), alluding to the shape of the spadix. Unlike the ornamental 'arum lily' with its broad white bract, or the distinct 'Jack-in-the-pulpit' of another genus, cuckoopint is a shadowy resident of damp woods. It is the lurid green cowl sheltering a dark-purple spike, the startling flare of red fruit in the leaf-litter, and the quiet, acrid warning of its poison—an earthy pun made flesh, thriving where nature's meanings are both literal and sly.
Etymology
From earlier cuckoopintle, from Middle English cokkoupintel from cokkou (“cuckoo”) + pintel (“penis”).
noun
- A flowering plant with arrow-shaped leaves and a cluster of scarlet berries, of species Arum maculatum.
- A flowering plant of species Arum italicum.
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- banewort 78% match — Atropa belladonna, deadly nightshade. vs cuckoopint →
- cowslip 77% match — A low-growing plant, Primula veris, with yellow flowers. vs cuckoopint →
- mandrake 76% match — Any plant of the genus Mandragora, certain of which are said to have medicinal or aphrodisiac properties; the root of these plants often resembles the shape of a small person, hence occasioning various mythic, magical, or occult uses. vs cuckoopint →
- celandine 76% match — Any plant of the genus Chelidonium. vs cuckoopint →
- hellebore 76% match — Any of the common garden flowering plants of the genus Helleborus, in family Ranunculaceae, having supposed medicinal properties. vs cuckoopint →
- eglantine 75% match — A Eurasian rose (Rosa rubiginosa, syn. Rosa eglanteria), having prickly stems, fragrant leaves, pink flowers and red hips. vs cuckoopint →
- wolfsbane 75% match — Any of several poisonous perennial herbs of the genus Aconitum. vs cuckoopint →
- lustwort 75% match — The sundew. vs cuckoopint →