coot

noun

ˈküt How to pronounce coot (audio)
Synonyms 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 sense 4c

Examples of coot in a Sentence

Don't mind him—he's just a crazy old coot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Seeing irascible old coots soften when in the presence of cherubic little nuggets gets me every time. — Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 20 May 2025 Plastic may also help Eurasian coots thrive and proliferate in urban settings. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025 If the canary wouldn’t sing, if the milkman was late, if the Pekingese had fleas, if an old coot in a starched collar had a heart attack on the way to church, that was the smog. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2026 Lake Hodges near Escondido is a major grebe nesting location where birders enjoy following the nesting process that begins with the weaving of reeds into floating mats where eggs are then deposited. Loons, coots, rails and gallinules are also floating nest builders. — Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for coot

Word History

Etymology

Middle English coote; akin to Dutch koet coot

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of coot was in the 15th century

Rhymes for coot

See All Rhymes for coot

Browse Nearby Words

coost
coot
Cootamundra wattle
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coot. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

coot

noun
ˈküt How to pronounce coot (audio)
1
: a slaty-black bird of the rail family that somewhat resembles a duck
2
: any of several North American scoters
3
: a harmless simple person

More from Merriam-Webster on coot

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coot

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coot

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