also: こう
noun
Literary or archaic term for swan; in modern Japanese, 白鳥 (はくちょう) is the standard word. The reading こく is more common than こう.
See also: 白鳥 (はくちょう)
古典では「鵠」を「こく」と読み、白鳥を指す。
In classical texts, 鵠 is read as こく and refers to a swan.
noun
Used in the compound 鵠的 (こくてき) meaning 'bullseye' or 'target center'. Rare standalone use.
「鵠的」は「こくてき」と読み、的の中心を意味する。
鵠的 is read as こくてき and means the center of a target.
Standard modern word for swan; 鵠 is a rare literary synonym.
The kanji 鵠 is a Chinese character for swan. The readings こく and こう are Sino-Japanese. The bullseye sense likely comes from the swan's white color contrasting with a target center.