- skip - Brewer’s

Cuckoo - Spit

,

Frog - Spit,” or “Froth-Spit.” The spume which forms the uidus of an insect called the Cicada Spumaria, or, more strictly speaking, the Cercopis Spumaria (one of the three divisions of the Cicadariæ). This spume is found on lavender-bushes, rosemary, fly-catch, and some other plants. Like the coohineal, the cicada spumaria exudes a foam for its own warmth, and for protection during its transition state. The wordcuckoo” in this case means spring or cuckoo-time.

 

previous entry · index · next entry

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

previous entry · index · next entry

Cub
Cuba
Cube
Cucking-stool (The)
Cuckold
Cuckold King (The)
Cuckold’s Point
Cuckoo
Cuckoo (A)
Cuckoo Oats and Woodcock Hay
Cuckoo - Spit
Cucumber Time
Cuddy
Cudgel One’s Brains (To)
Cudgels
Cue
Cuffy
Cui bono?
Cuirass
Cuishes
Cul de Sac (French)