coot

coot

noun \ˈküt\

Definition of COOT

1

: any of various slaty-black birds (genus Fulica) of the rail family that somewhat resemble ducks and have lobed toes and the upper mandible prolonged on the forehead as a horny frontal shield

2

: any of several North American scoters

3

: a harmless simple person; broadly : fellow 4c

Examples of COOT

1. Don't mind him—he's just a crazy old coot.

Origin of COOT

Middle English coote; akin to Dutch koet coot

First Known Use: 15th century

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

Rhymes with COOT

boot, bruit, brut, brute, bute, Bute, butte, chute, cloot, cute, flute, fruit, glout, glute, hoot, jute, Jute, loot, lute, moot, mute, newt, pood, root, Root, rout, route, scoot, scute, shoot, snoot, soot, suit, suite, toot, tout, ut, Ute

coot

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mud hen (Fulica americana)—Ben Goldstein/Root Resources

Any of 10 species of ducklike waterbirds (genus Fulica) in the rail family. Coots are found worldwide in larger inland waters and streams, where they swim and bob for food, mostly plants, seeds, mollusks, and worms. They have greenish or bluish gray feet, with toes fringed by a lobed membrane that helps them swim and walk over marshes. The short conical beak is topped by a flattened, fleshy shield that extends onto the forehead. The European coot is about 18 in. (45 cm) long and weighs 2 lbs (900 g). The coot of North America resembles the European species.