noun
coot
KOOT/kuːt/
A dark waterbird with a pale bill.
The coot paddles across the pond with its pale bill held forward.
Etymology
Coot was first a name for diving waterbirds and later came to mean a silly person or fool. The supplied evidence does not explain what prompted its application to people.
In context
there's a loony old coot named a pac-mule parker yeah we ran into him he's got the mistaken idea that he owns practically all the mining country around here
More examples
- Several coots gather among the reeds near the shore.
- The coot dives underwater to feed on aquatic plants.
- Unlike a duck, a coot has lobed toes rather than webbed feet.
Forms
coot · coots
Similar words
- moorhen
- A related waterbird with a red bill and yellow tip.
- duck
- A waterbird with webbed feet rather than a coot's lobed toes.