Mythological bugs and
disease of the
schoolyard or
playground. The word probably derives from the
Malay kutu, meaning "a biting,
parasitic insect".
Often spread from
female children to
male children (or the
opposite, male to female) via
kisses or other
public displays of affection. Effectively warded off using the common
cootie shot or
cootie lock.
Common
symptoms and
consequences of cooties include (but are not limited to):
- Shouting "I do not! I do not!" at the top of one's lungs.
- Marrying someone you didn't intend to within 10-15 years.
- Being avoided by your peers for about 10-15 minutes, or until someone else catches cooties.
- Being subjected to the dreaded cootie beatings, a rare but unpleasant experience.
Sometimes also used to describe a
head lice infestation.
Yes, this was a nodeshell rescue