cusceote

== Old English == === Alternative forms === cūsċote, cūsċute === Etymology === Uncertain; the traditional derivation from cū (“cow”) +‎ *sċote, *sċeote (“shoot of a plant?" or "shooter?, darter?”, an otherwise unknown derivative of sċēotan (“to shoot”)) is somewhat semantically dubious; however, compare Old High German *skozza in erdskozza (“vine sapling, shoot”, literally “ground-shoot”). Perhaps the reference to cow is due to the cowish appearance, nature, and disposition of wood pidgeons and ring doves; or, because wood pigeons can often be seen feeding in fields where cows graze. However, there are no known reported myths or old wives' tales explaining a connection between wood pidgeons and cows (e.g. that wood pidgeons spring up out of cow excrement, etc.). Alternatively, the first element may instead be cūsċ (“chaste, modest, pure, clean”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈkuːˌʃo.te/ === Noun === cūsċeote f (zoology) a woodpigeon or ringdove ==== Declension ==== Weak n-stem: ==== Synonyms ==== culfre *dūfe ==== Descendants ==== Middle English: cowschote, cowscott, cowshott, quysht, quyshte, quystEnglish: cowshot, cushat, quist, queest⇒ English: cushie, cushaScots: cushat