coot

[ koot ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

any aquatic bird of the genus Fulica, as F. americana, of North America, and F. atra, of the Old World, characterized by lobate toes and short wings and tail.
any of various other swimming or diving birds, especially the scoters.
Informal. a foolish or crotchety person, especially one who is old.

coot

/ kuːt /

any aquatic bird of the genus Fulica, esp F. atra of Europe and Asia, having lobed toes, dark plumage, and a white bill with a frontal shield: family Rallidae (rails, crakes, etc)
a foolish person, esp an old man (often in the phrase old coot )

Origin of coot¹

1250–1300; Middle English cote; cognate with Dutch koet

Origin of coot¹

C14: probably from Low German; compare Dutch koet

The eagles, coots and some other birds lost their motor coordination, struggled to fly or even walk, and had seizures.

The first guitar music he heard as a child came from a two-string acoustic that a family friend named Coot used to play.

The soft “coot, coot” of a hen picking up grain on the old barn floor!

"Coot" Brandon was one of "Jeb" Stuart's rangers, and came every day for corn for his horse.

He did not give the expected coot, but came through the forest glade silently and with a halting step.

I have heard of the loons doing something like that, but I didn't suppose a coot had sense enough for that.

The coot is less often seen, but the heron will be often disturbed from its busy occupation on the shallows.

April 21, 2024absquatulate

[ab-skwoch-uh-leyt ]

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