cooee

American  

[koo-ee] / ˈku i /

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.

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verb (used without object)

cooeed, cooeeing

1. to utter the call “cooee.”

cooee British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (intr) to utter this call

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of cooee

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cooee cooeed cooeeing

Up through the ferns came the thin note of Miss Bibby’s cooee.

From In the Mist of the Mountains by Macfarlane, J.

This Colony can't come within a cooee of you with the beer, and I'm the first to own it!

From At Large by Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William)

"Come back to that and cooee, and we'll answer you."

From A Little Bush Maid by Bruce, Mary Grant

Then looked a little troubled, for cooee was to be interpreted that all was well.

From In the Mist of the Mountains by Macfarlane, J.

Just at the moment we were preparing to shoot the bullock, we heard the cooee of a native, and in a short time two men were seen approaching and apparently desirous of having a parley.

From Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia : from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, a distance of upwards of 3000 miles, during the years 1844-1845 by Leichhardt, Ludwig

The chums called, whistled, halloed, and cooeed until they were hoarse, but not a soul took the slightest notice.

From The Madcap of the School by Salmon, Balliol

Charlie pulled up in front of the house, and cooeed.

From Outback Marriage, an : a story of Australian life by Paterson, A. B. (Andrew Barton)

I dismounted and cooeed; they answered; but when they saw me, they took such of their things as they could and crossed to the opposite side of the river in great hurry and confusion.

From Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia : from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, a distance of upwards of 3000 miles, during the years 1844-1845 by Leichhardt, Ludwig

After a little time I missed the boy, and cooeed for him.

From Reminiscences of Queensland 1862-1869 by Corfield, W. H. (William Henry)

I cooeed to him; at which he looked up, but seemed to be at a loss what to do or say.

From Journal of an Overland Expedition in Australia : from Moreton Bay to Port Essington, a distance of upwards of 3000 miles, during the years 1844-1845 by Leichhardt, Ludwig

Search-parties cooeeing to each other about the Bush, and lighting signal-fires.

From Joe Wilson and His Mates by Lawson, Henry