Meanings
nouncuckoo spit (uncountable)
- uncountableA frothy mass of white liquid that is secreted onto plants by froghopper larvae and serves as a protective covering.
Synonyms: cuckoo-spittle, frog spit, toad-spit
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA frothy mass of white liquid that is secreted onto plants by froghopper larvae and serves as a protective covering.
Also see
Origin
From appearing on plants at around the time that cuckoo birds return in the spring.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch koekoeksspuug
- koekoeksspuugfrothy mass
Finnish käärmeensylki
- käärmeensylkifrothy mass
Polish kukułcza ślina
- kukułcza ślinafrothy mass
Cite this entry
APA
cuckoo spit. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cuckoo%20spit
MLA
“cuckoo spit.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cuckoo%20spit. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cuckoo spit,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cuckoo%20spit.
Source: cuckoo spit on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.