coot

[ koot ]

noun

1. 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.
2. any of various other swimming or diving birds, especially the scoters.
3. Informal. a foolish or crotchety person, especially one who is old.

coot

/ kuːt /

noun

1. 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)
2. a foolish person, esp an old man (often in the phrase old coot )

Word History and Origins

Origin of coot¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of coot¹

C14: probably from Low German; compare Dutch koet

Example Sentences

The wetland attracts birds, such as coots and tricolored blackbirds, and also recharges the aquifer that the roots of cottonwoods and willows tap into.

From Los Angeles Times

On a recent sunny day at Green Lake, with nearby trees still waiting to bloom, a single coot floats by two brand-new docks.

From Seattle Times

The wildlife refuge is a wetland that provides nesting, feeding and resting habitat to the endangered Hawaiian stilt, known as aeo, and the Hawaiian coot or alae keokeo.

From Seattle Times

After scrambling in the water for food, this coot eventually caught a loach.

From BBC

As he stood by the water, two dark birds floated on the surface — American coots, or mud hens.

From Los Angeles Times