Literary notes about Coo (AI summary)
In literature, "coo" operates on multiple levels—both as a vivid onomatopoeic imitation of the soft, gentle sound made by doves and pigeons and as a term of personal endearment or quirky nomenclature. Writers often use its musical quality to evoke pastoral calm or underline moments of tender intimacy, as when doves "sit and coo on the flat roofs" or when the soft, repeated "coo" fills the quiet of a scene ([1], [2], [3], [4]). At the same time, "coo" can serve as a playful label or a proper name, lending its sound to characters such as Mr Coo or the affectionate address "Coo-my-dove," which adds layers of whimsy and character to the narrative ([5], [6], [7], [8]). This dual use underscores how sound and meaning intertwine, enriching both the auditory imagery and the emotional texture of a passage ([9], [10], [11]).
- Grape vines grow over their walls, and doves sit and coo on the flat roofs.
— from The Good Shepherd: A Life of Christ for Children by Anonymous - The sky shows fair and blue, And somewhere, from beneath the eaves, I hear the pigeons coo.
— from Among the Trees Again by Evaleen Stein - As though by magic butterflies appeared basking upon the rain-shattered lily blooms; bright birds flitted from tree to tree, ringdoves began to coo.
— from The Ghost Kings by H. Rider (Henry Rider) Haggard - The pigeon's coo, the squirrel's chirp, The wild-bird's thrilling lay, Brought freshen'd pleasure to his heart, At ev'ry op'ning day.
— from Canada and Other Poems by T. F. (Thomas Frederick) Young - “Must you go downstairs at once?” asked Mr Coo.
— from The Wood-Pigeons and Mary by Mrs. Molesworth - Her father pressed her sore but she said: “Father dear, I do not wish to marry; I can be quite happy with Coo-my-dove here.”
— from English Fairy Tales - Coo!” “What is that you say up there?” cried little Gerda.
— from Andersen's Fairy Tales by H. C. Andersen - She looked up and said: “Coo-my-dove, my dear, come down to me and I will give you a golden cage.
— from English Fairy Tales - “Coo-roo-coo-coo-coo,” sounded from the quiet.
— from The Garden Party, and Other Stories by Katherine Mansfield - “Oh, oh!” said Coo-my-dove; “it's time that I was away,” and so he jumped upon the window-sill and in a moment was flying away.
— from English Fairy Tales - The magic word that guarded the door had probably been invented by Coo-ee-oh, who had now forgotten it.
— from Glinda of Oz In Which Are Related the Exciting Experiences of Princess Ozma of Oz, and Dorothy, in Their Hazardous Journey to the Home of the Flatheads, and to the Magic Isle of the Skeezers, and How They Were Rescued from Dire Peril by the Sorcery of Glinda the Good by L. Frank (Lyman Frank) Baum
