cooee

/ˈkuːʷiː/

Etymology

Borrowed from Dharug guuu-wi, adopted into English by white settlers in Australia from 1790.

intj

  1. Used to attract someone's attention.“Cooee! I'm over here!”

name

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

noun

  1. 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".”
  2. A short distance; hailing distance.“That is not within cooee of 10 per cent; it is much closer to six per cent.”

verb

  1. 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.’”