Also 6 cucuio, 9 erron. cucullo. [Sp. cucuyo, adaptation of a Haitian or other native American name.] The West Indian firefly (Pyrophorus noctilucus), an elaterid beetle which emits brilliant phosphorescent light from spots on the body.
1591. Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. v. 794. New-Spain’s Cucuio, in his forehead brings Two burning Lamps, two underneath his wings.
1647. W. Browne, Polexander, I. 97. These little Cucuyës … mingle their living lights with the obscuritie of this Dungeon.
1692. Coles, Cucuye, a bird in Hispaniola, with eyes under the wings, shining in the night.
1706. Phillips (ed. Kersey), Cucuyos, a kind of Fly in America, which gives such a Lustre in the Night that one may … write and read by the Light of it.
18[?]. Lydia M. Child, Fountain of Beauty. The cucullo and the lantern-fly stood at her side.
1842. Thoreau, Excursions (1863), 60. Launch forth like a cucullo into the night.
