coot

noun

ˈküt 

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

Is the abundance of plastic in Eurasian coot nests necessarily bad? —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Mar. 2025

Rooney was an elderly columnist, too, latterly in the news for saying the sorts of things a decaying old coot would say. —Bill Wyman, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025

That’s when Broadbent’s whimsical eyes take over, splitting the difference between doddering old coot and magical elf. —Katie Rife, Vulture, 16 Nov. 2024

The set-piece of Jim and Huck telling their stories also lets Walker and Anderson have some fun with the two old coots bickering over details, each armed with the stubborn certainty of long years. —Rob Salkowitz, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English coote; akin to Dutch koet coot

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for coot

• beaut
• boot
• bruit
• brut
• brute
• chute
• cute
• flute
• fruit
• hoot
• jute
• loot

Kids Definition

coot

noun

ˈküt 

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