cooee

[koo-ee]

noun

1. a prolonged, shrill, clear call or cry used as a signal by Aboriginal inhabitants of Australia and adopted by the settlers in the country.

verb (used without object)

cooeed, cooeeing 

1. to utter the call “cooee.”

cooee

/ ˈkuːiː /

interjection

1. a call used to attract attention, esp (originally) a long loud high-pitched call on two notes used in the Australian bush

verb

1. (intr) to utter this call

noun

1. informal,  calling distance (esp in the phrase within ( a ) cooee ( of ))

Word History and Origins

Origin of cooee¹

First recorded in 1780–90, cooee is from the Dharuk word gu-wī

Word History and Origins

Origin of cooee¹

C19: from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

For some years now, there’s been a strange generational blurring, where kids can’t even go to rock festivals without their parents shouting “cooee!” from the next yurt.

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Australia’s cute country towns – many within cooee of the city – are the battlegrounds.

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The former Newcastle caretaker manager, now shouting "Cooee" and waving his hand so vigorously at Venky's it may fall off, gets the full treatment from Rodgers for doubting Joe Allen.

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We all yelled in response, a variety of yells, from "Tally Ho" to "Cooee," as, like Bedlam let loose, we rushed to the discoverer.

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Now, I'll stay here," she said, "in the shade of the trees, while you go round and round; and if you don't find her here, go right over the ridge and cooee every few seconds.

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