cooee

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A long, loud call used to attract attention when at a distance, mainly done in the…

   A long, loud call used to attract attention when at a distance, mainly done in the Australian bush.

   • Then they heard in the distance the "coo-ee" of a white man, which was instantly answered by another "coo-ee".
   • I call out, “Coo-ee” with long Coo and short ee like whip-bird call. Everybody in my mob know my cooee. Any one of my mob hear that, they give me cooee back. I listen. No cooee come back.
   • 2006, Saskia Beudel, Walking: West MacDonnell Ranges 2002, in Drusilla Modjeska, The Best Australian Essays 2006, page 309, Just as I was preparing to write in my exercise book, I heard a cooee. Cooees were not part of the code.
2. 2

   A short distance

   A short distance; hailing distance.

   • That is not within cooee of 10 per cent; it is much closer to six per cent.
   • We were carless, in the dark, and no one to help within cooee.
3. 3

   To make such a call.

   • ‘Look out for snakes,’ said Long Charlie, flourishing his lantern. ‘And don′t all of us be coo-eeing all the time, or when the little chap sings out we shan't be able to hear him.’
   • Slipping out of the tail of the dray, I cooeed as loud as I could which was answered.
   • 2006, Saskia Beudel, Walking: West MacDonnell Ranges 2002, in Drusilla Modjeska, The Best Australian Essays 2006, page 310, I cooeed back. Another cooee came in what seemed to be a reply. I cooeed again.
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Used to attract someone's attention.

      • Cooee! I'm over here!
      • Then, raising her hands to her lips she utters a long, loud, piercing " Cooee ! " " Coo — ee ! " comes back over the black waters.
   2. 5

      A town in Burnie City Council, north western Tasmania, Australia.

The neighborhood