coot
English
Etymology
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.) From Middle English cote (“coot”). Related to Dutch meerkoet.
Pronunciation
Noun
coot (plural coots)
- Any of various aquatic birds of the genus Fulica that are mainly black with a prominent frontal shield on the forehead.
- (colloquial) A foolish or eccentric fellow
- A silly coot.
- An old coot
- A rich coot
- 1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter VII:
- “You'll be able now to give it as your considered opinion that [Wilbert Cream] is as loony as a coot, Sir Roderick.” A pause ensued during which [the psychiatrist] appeared to be weighing this, possibly thinking back to coots he had met in the course of his professional career and trying to estimate their dippiness as compared with that of W. Cream.
- (slang, with the) A success; something excellent.
- Man that song's the coot.
- Would be the coot if we could go this weekend!
- (slang) Body louse (Pediculus humanus).
Derived terms
bird species
- American coot, Fulica americana
- Andean coot, Fulica ardesiaca
- Caribbean coot, Fulica caribaea
- Eurasian coot, Fulica atra
- giant coot, Fulica gigantea
- Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai
- horned coot, Fulica cornuta
- mascarene coot, Lua error in Module:parameters at line 828: Parameter "noshow" is not used by this template.
- red-fronted coot, Fulica rufifrons
- red-gartered coot, Fulica armillata
- red-knobbed coot, Fulica cristata
- white-winged coot, Fulica leucoptera
(other derived terms)
Related terms
- (bird): fulicine
Translations
bird
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Anagrams
Middle English
Noun
coot
- Alternative form of cote (“coat”)
Scots
Etymology
Compare Dutch koot, Flemish keute.
Noun
coot (plural coots)
- The ankle.
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