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The meaning and origin of the expression: As bald as a coot

As bald as a coot

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What's the meaning of the phrase 'As bald as a coot'?

Completely bald.

What's the origin of the phrase 'As bald as a coot'?

Coots are water birds whose heads have the appearance of baldness. This doesn't refer to the lack of feathers on the bird's head, but to their white markings. 'Bald' has several meanings, one of which is 'streaked or marked with white'. That's the meaning here, as in 'piebald', used to describe the black and white markings of a horse or other animal.

As bald as a cootThe phrase is very old and is referred to in John Lydgate's Chronicle of Troy, 1430:

"And yet he was as balde as is a coote."

See other 'as x as y similes'.

Gary Martin - the author of the phrases.org.uk website.

By Gary Martin

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