The Greek word for the cuckoo bird, kokkux, is related to our word coccyx, the tailbone, because the bone looks like the bill of a cuckoo. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “The Cuckoo and Coccyx Connection”
The Greek word for cuckoo bird is kokouks, and that is important to us as English speakers because our coccyx, C-O-C-C-Y-X, or our tailbone…
Right, right at the end of your spine.
Right, is named for the bill of a cuckoo bird because it looks just like one.
That’s very strange, right?
I think it’s gorgeous.
I think it’s part of the poetry of anatomy.
Right.
So maybe it’s somebody who was a zoologist or biologist who studied all life forms, just happened to notice.
Yeah.
It may have been Galen.
I’m not sure who.
Interesting.
Maybe it’s the same person who named our tibias tibias because that’s the Latin word for flute.
Flute.
Okay.
Very interesting.
