cuckold

[ kuhk-uhld ]

noun

1. the husband of an unfaithful wife.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a cuckold of (a husband).

cuckold

/ ˈkʌkəld /

noun

1. a man whose wife has committed adultery, often regarded as an object of scorn

verb

1. tr to make a cuckold of

Derived Forms

• ˈcuckoldry, noun

Other Words From

• cuckold·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of cuckold¹

1200–50; Middle English cukeweld, later cok ( k ) ewold, cukwold < Anglo-French *cucuald (compare Middle French cucuault ), equivalent to Old French cocu cuckoo + -ald, -alt pejorative suffix ( ribald ); apparently originally applied to an adulterer, in allusion to the cuckoo's habit of laying its eggs in other birds' nests

Word History and Origins

Origin of cuckold¹

C13 cukeweld, from Old French cucuault, from cucu cuckoo ; perhaps an allusion to the parasitic cuckoos that lay their eggs in the nests of other birds

Example Sentences

It is not just that he is suicidal, cuckolded and broke that turns him though.

From Salon

“Well, he’s already so fearful the Big Guy says the only way to take care of him is to make him penniless and cuckolded by a 350 lb. wife who has herpes.”

From Salon

In recent years, I’ve played a lot of alpha-dominant males so I thought it would be interesting to play the cuckold, the jilted lover, if you will.

From Los Angeles Times

Just when the way seems paved for John to be cuckolded, Frazier springs a surprise.

From Washington Post

“He feels like the cuckold who gave everything blindly to the relationship without knowing he has been cheated on.”

From New York Times

Related Words

• cuck