Cuckoopint

/ˈkʌkuːˌpɪnt/ noun

Definition

A wildflower with a distinctive spotted stem and colorful spathe, also known as lords-and-ladies or cuckoo pint.

Etymology

From 'cuckoo' + Middle English 'pint' (possibly from Latin 'pinctus' or related to 'penis'), referring to the plant's phallic central spike; named because it flowers when cuckoos arrive.

Kelly Says

Cuckoopint has some delightfully rude old names like 'priest's pintle' and 'friar's cowl' because medieval people saw the botanical anatomy and couldn't resist naming it accordingly—plant naming was much less formal back then!

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