Coop
/kuːp/noun
A small enclosure or cage for keeping poultry, or a small enclosed space.
Did you know?English coop comes from the same ancient Germanic root as Dutch kuip and German Kufe, all tied to a hollow container or vat—so the word’s oldest vibe is literally “something curved to hold things in.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*kūpą
“a vessel or container, especially a tub or cask”
Old English
OE
cūpe
“a tub, vat, or bowl-shaped container”
Middle English
ME
coup
“a tub, barrel, or cage-like enclosure for poultry”
Modern English
EN
coop
“a cage or small enclosure for chickens; by extension, a small cramped room or space”