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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)

, coo·eed, coo·ee·ing.
  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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

  1. intr to utter this call
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. informal.
    calling distance (esp in the phrase within ( a ) cooee ( of ))
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of cooee1

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

Origin of cooee1

C19: from a native Australian language
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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.

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

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.

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

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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