List of directories under a "top-level" module

[chaitu]

If my CVS repository is /src, and there is a top-level module called
abcd under /src, normally I issue checkout of abcd in this way:

cvs co abcd

If abcd contains 40 subdirectories or submodules in addition to some
files, and if some of them are bulky, it takes a hell lotta time to
check abcd out fully, across a trans-continental slow network. So I am
looking for some feature like querying the CVS server for getting
myself a list of submodules under a module so that I can eliminate the
bulkier, not-so-frequently-used submodules from the list and check out
under abcd only the lighter frequently-used modules.

And let me say in advance that update is ruled out in the scenario
here. I am expected to check out source code daily before the build
begins.

Any help will be much appreciated.... :)

- Chaitanya