cooter

1. A freshwater turtle of the eastern United States of the genus Pseudemys.
2. A box turtle.
3. (slang) A redneck.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈkutɚ/

Etymology

Cognate with Bambara: kuta

In summary

Borrowed from Gullah cootuh (“turtle”), from an African language, e.g. Bambara kuta (“turtle”). Attested in English from the 19th century.

Synonyms

Pseudemys concinna

river cooter

cooze

ginch

coochy

doos

cooch