cootie
Imaginary child pest
Cooties are imaginary germs or parasites that children attribute to members of the opposite sex—or anyone deemed undesirable—to justify avoiding contact: Don't touch him, he has cooties!
The word originated as World War I slang for body lice.
The childhood sense treats contamination as a game, with elaborate rituals like "cootie shots" providing immunity.
Microscopic disease agents
- tagIdentifier or classifier
- chaseRapid following of quarry
- rhymeMatching terminal sounds
- schoolyardOutdoor area at school
elementary · recess · touch · silly · gross · boys · girls · flirting
American toy conglomerate
- bugCrawling creature or defect
- legsLocomotion appendages below torso
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
- eyesOrgans of sight
body · assembly · dice · pieces · plastic · toy · boardgame · children
Microscopic disease agents
- grossTotal before subtractions
- ickyUnpleasantly distasteful
- yuckyUnpleasantly disgusting
- contaminationIntroduction of impurities
unclean · contagious · filth · repulsion · nausea · revulsion · infection · bacteria
Isolation preventing disease transmission
- isolationComplete separation from others
- distancingCreating space or separation
- touchPerceiving through physical contact
- contagiousTransmissible between people
protection · separation · shunning · exclusion · ostracism · untouchable · rejection · stigma
germs
Microscopic disease agents
schoolyard · elementary · recess · touch · silly · gross · boys · girls · flirting · teasing
Hasbro
American toy conglomerate
- bugCrawling creature or defect
- legsLocomotion appendages below torso
- antennaeSensory appendages on insects
eyes · body · assembly · dice · pieces · plastic · toy · boardgame · children · roll
germs
Microscopic disease agents
contamination · unclean · contagious · filth · repulsion · nausea · revulsion · infection · bacteria · dirty
quarantine
Isolation preventing disease transmission
- isolationComplete separation from others
- distancingCreating space or separation
- touchPerceiving through physical contact
contagious · protection · separation · shunning · exclusion · ostracism · untouchable · rejection · stigma · pariah
lice
Bloodsucking scalp insects
- infestationPest takeover situation
- nitsLice before hatching
- itchingIrritating skin sensation
scalp · parasites · bedbugs · fleas · bugs · creepy-crawlies · vermin · pests · biting · scratching
cootiepopularity
Mass public favor
coolness · charm · immunity · desirability · social acceptance
- cootie catcherFolded paper divination toy