cootie
1or coot·y
[ koo-tee ]
/ ˈku ti /
Save This Word!
noun plural coot·ies.Informal.
a louse, especially one affecting humans, as the body louse, head louse, or pubic louse.
a child's term for an imaginary germ or disease that one can catch by touching a person who is disliked or socially avoided: The girls at camp thought the boys had cooties.
QUIZ
WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?
Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!
Question 1 of 7
Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.
Origin of cootie
11910–15; perhaps <Malay kutu biting body louse, with final syllable conformed to -ie
Other definitions for cootie (2 of 2)
cootie2
or coot·y
[ koo-tee ]
/ ˈku ti /
noun Scot.
a wooden container, especially a wooden bowl, for storing or serving food or drink.
Origin of cootie
21775–85; variant of Scots cood, of uncertain origin
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use cootie in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for cootie
cootie
/ (ˈkuːtɪ) /
noun
Word Origin for cootie
C20: perhaps from Malay or Māori kutu louse
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