: 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
Recent Examples on the WebBut Wayne hasn’t revealed his intentions to the property’s owner, a withered old coot who greets all visitors with a wave of his shotgun. John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2022 Other waterfowl, such as the American coot and the northern shoveler, are even more numerous. Elena Bruess, San Antonio Express-News, 8 Jan. 2022 Five of them — including an American coot and a western gull — have died.Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2021 Officials found three oiled birds Sunday — a brown pelican, an American coot and a duck.Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2021 Required to hunt any migratory game bird (waterfowl, coot, rail, gallinule, snipe, dove, sandhill crane and woodcock) in combination with a Federal Duck Stamp and HIP Certification for waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older. Matt Williams, Dallas News, 14 Aug. 2021 The coot is the late Brian Dennehy, bringing low-key charm to his friendship with Lucas Jaye, who plays a kid helping his mom clear out her late sister's garbage house.Star Tribune, 17 Dec. 2020 Most of my fellow members of the media laughed at Harry and portrayed him as a stubborn ol’ coot who probably belonged in the nuthouse.oregonlive, 18 May 2020 Spotted salamanders breed here and night herons roost, alongside coots and grebes. Alexis Soloski, New York Times, 13 May 2020 See More