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Definition of cooter

cooter

/ˈkuːtər/
coo · ter
Plural:cooters
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cooter Lexical Profile

cooter Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American Any of several large, primarily herbivorous freshwater turtles of the genus Pseudemys (family Emydidae), native to the rivers, lakes, and marshes of the southeastern United States.

Example

"A large river cooter was basking on a half-submerged log near the edge of the swamp."

2

American The vulva or vagina (used as vulgar slang).

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cooter

Word Nuance & Usage

While completely standard in herpetology and Southern regional English when referring to freshwater turtles, the word also has a widespread vulgar slang sense referring to female genitalia and should be used with awareness of context.

• Rhymes for cooter

• Nearby Words

coordinator
coosa
coot
cooter
cootie
cooties
cop

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed in the early 19th century into Gullah and Southern American English from West African languages, specifically Bambara and Mandinka 'kuta', meaning 'turtle'.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cooter. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cooter
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