coot

views updated May 29 2018

coot / koōt/ • n. 1. (pl. same) an aquatic bird (genus Fulica) of the rail family, with blackish plumage, lobed feet, and a bill that extends back onto the forehead as a horny shield. 2. inf. a foolish or eccentric person, typically an old man.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

coot

views updated May 23 2018

coot Aquatic bird of freshwater marshes. Related to the rails, it is a strong swimmer and diver. All coots have white bills and foreheads. The female lays 8–12 buff-coloured, brown-spotted eggs on a floating reed nest. Family Rallidae; genus Fulica.

World Encyclopedia

coot

views updated May 14 2018

coot XIV (first in balled cote ‘bald coot’). prob. of LG. orig. (cf. Du. koet).

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

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