Cootie: meaning, definitions and examples

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cootie

 

[ หˆkuหti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

slang term

A cootie is a term used to refer to imaginary germs or lice that children often believe can be transmitted through close contact or from the opposite sex. The word is commonly used in a playful or derogatory manner among children.

Synonyms

creepy-crawly, germ, lice

Examples of usage

  • Ew, stay away from her! She has cooties!
  • Boys have cooties, I can't play with them.
  • Don't let them touch you, or you'll get cooties!

Translations

Translations of the word "cootie" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น piolho

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฌเคงเคฟเคฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช laus

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kutu

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะพัˆะฐ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ wszy

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ทใƒฉใƒŸ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท poux

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ piojo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท bit

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ์ด

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ู…ู„

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vลกi

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vลกi

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่™ฑๅญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ uลกi

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ lรบs

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะฑาฑะปัˆั‹า›

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฌแƒ•แƒ”แƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ bit

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ piojo

Etymology

The term 'cootie' originated during World War I as a slang term for lice, particularly in relation to the lice that infested soldiers in the trenches. Soldiers began using the word in a humorous context to describe the discomfort and irritation caused by lice. This usage soon spread, and by the 1920s, it had entered popular culture, especially among children who used it to refer to any kind of germs or imaginary bugs during playground games. Cooties were often associated with the idea of being 'infected' by close contact with someone of the opposite gender, and it has remained a part of children's language and games ever since. The playful notion of cooties reflects childhood fears and social dynamics around germs and cleanliness.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,888, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.