coot
coot Lexical Profile
coot Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An eccentric, foolish, or crotchety older person, typically a man.
"The eccentric old coot spent his afternoons sitting on the porch and yelling at the squirrels."
Any of various aquatic birds of the genus Fulica (family Rallidae), characterized by dark grey to black plumage, a prominent white or colored facial shield, and lobed toes rather than webbed feet.
"A small flock of coots paddled through the marsh, occasionally diving below the surface to feed on aquatic plants."
Word Nuance & Usage
While primarily referring to a type of waterbird, in colloquial English 'coot' is heavily used in the phrase 'old coot' to affectionately or disparagingly describe a crotchety or eccentric elderly man.
• Rhymes for coot
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English 'coote' or 'cote', possibly of Low German or Dutch origin; related to Dutch 'koet' (coot). The slang sense of a foolish person dates back to the late 18th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.