An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Kuckuck

by Friedrich Kluge

Kuckuck, m., ‘cuckoo,’ from the equiv. late MidHG. kuckuk (rare), m.; the usual term in MidHG. is gouch, which was introduced in the 15th cent. from Du. (koekoek, early MidDu. cuccûc). An onomatopoetic term widely diffused, but it is not necessary to assume that it was borrowed in most of the languages, E. cuckoo, Fr. coucou, Lat. cuculus, W. and Corn. cog, Or. cúach. See also Küchlein.