coot: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal (when used for a person). Neutral/Formal (when referring to the bird).
Quick answer
What does “coot” mean?
A waterbird with a black body, white beak and forehead, found on lakes and ponds.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A waterbird with a black body, white beak and forehead, found on lakes and ponds.
Used as a term for a foolish or eccentric old man, often in the phrase 'old coot'.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both varieties use the word similarly for the bird and the metaphorical insult. No significant lexical differences.
Connotations
Identical connotations in both varieties: a foolish, stubborn, or peculiar (old) man.
Frequency
The metaphorical sense is slightly more common in American English, but widely understood in both.
Grammar
How to Use “coot” in a Sentence
[be] an old coot[be] a silly coot[look] like a cootVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; would be highly informal and potentially offensive.
Academic
Used in ornithology and ecology for the bird; metaphorical use is inappropriate.
Everyday
Common in metaphorical use for a person, especially in informal conversation.
Technical
Fulica atra (Eurasian Coot), Fulica americana (American Coot) in biology/zoology.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “coot”
- Misspelling as 'cute'.
- Using for a woman (it is strongly masculine).
- Using in formal contexts to describe a person.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Almost never. The metaphorical sense is strongly masculine. Using it for a woman would be very unusual and potentially more offensive.
No, it is a mild, informal insult. It is more humorous or dismissive than truly offensive, but context matters.
Coots are larger, entirely black with a white bill and forehead shield. Moorhens are smaller, darker, with a red bill and forehead shield and a white line along their side.
It likely derives from the bird's awkward appearance on land and its sometimes foolish or aggressive behaviour, which was metaphorically transferred to people.
A waterbird with a black body, white beak and forehead, found on lakes and ponds.
Coot is usually informal (when used for a person). neutral/formal (when referring to the bird). in register.
Coot: in British English it is pronounced /kuːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /kuːt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As bald as a coot”
- “An old coot”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an 'old coot' who is 'cuckoo' (crazy) and likes to sit by the 'cove' or lake like the bird.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSON IS A BIRD (specifically, a foolish/odd person is a coot).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'coot' LEAST appropriate?