Meaning of Cootie | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A louse (Pediculus humanus).
   British-Army, Canada, US, colloquial, dated, slang
2. Any germ or contaminant, real or imagined, especially from the opposite gender (for pre-pubescent children).
   Australia, Canada, US, childish, colloquial, plural-normally
3. A nest-building female American coot (counterpart to cooter).
   rare
4. A sideswiper, a type of telegraph key.
   rare, slang

Equivalents

Examples

“"Tell⟳ Rilla I'm glad her war-baby is turning out so well, and tell⟳ Susan that I'm fighting a good fight⟳ against both Huns and cooties." "Mrs. Dr. dear," whispered Susan solemnly, "what are cooties?" Mrs. Blythe whispered back and then said in reply⟳ to Susan's horrified ejaculations, "It's always like⟳ that in the trenches, Susan." Susan shook her head and went away in grim silence to re-open a parcel she had sewed up for Jem and slip⟳ in a fine tooth comb.”

“I’m not drinking from his glass until I wash⟳ the cooties off it.”

CEFR level