Hi! I’m not a native English speaker so not sure if this is truly offensive, but something about it didn’t sit right with me. It sounds a little ageist (although the same could be said for a lot of mnenomics about youths). I hope I’m not just overthinking everything, let me know if you agree or not!
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No this isn’t particularly offensive. I believe coot is mostly an American term. We don’t really use it in Britain and I can’t recall ever hearing an Aussie use the term either. Here in the UK a coot is a waterfowl that I get mixed up with a moorhen when I see them in a pond. (One has a white bill and the other yellow, but which is which???) Instead of coot for an old person, we might have an old fogey; a geezer if it’s a man or a biddy for a woman. None of these terms show respect for the elderly, but they aren’t terribly rude of themselves.
As always, words can carry different meanings depending on context. These could even be used affectionately if you know someone well enough.
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I’m American, and “coot” isn’t particularly offensive because it’s mostly perceived as a comedic old-timey word, similar to calling a child a “rascal”. I can’t even read the word without doing a funny voice in my head, haha.
If anything I’m surprised that this example managed to avoid the obvious and more insulting imagery of old people getting in the way just by walking slowly, instead making the joke that they’re doing it repeatedly and on purpose.
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American here too, and this is my interpretation as well. “Coot” pokes fun, but in a way very much endearing and lighthearted. I can’t think of a single context in which it would be used in a malicious or insulting manner.
Probably more reserved for people who know each other well, but if used it would make both parties laugh. Like calling a child “rascal” as you’ve said, or generally like calling someone “silly”
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American, from the south and we say it in mostly a poke in fun kind of way. You can yell it mean but no one would take you seriously. It would be like calling someone a skallywag. Just a older dumb word
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as my dad told me, moorhen has an R for red, and coot has a T for white!
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And there’s ほ from hohoho in ホワイト. It all makes sense after a while.
as others say; it’s a comedic term in american english at this point. has a sense of the old west to some degree in my mind. I think of something like this fella.
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Oh, I see! Thank you for the explanation!
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Codger is probably the equivalent British term
Also doesn’t carry much offence with it
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Absolutely. Coot makes me think of Gabby Hayes or Walter Brennan with John Wayne or the guy in the bed here with Clint …
Codger makes me think Last of the Summer Wine. More West Riding than West of the Pacos.
(credit - rex features)
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hah, gabby hayes was exactly who I was trying to remember the name of.
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