Posted by Mike F. on February 20, 2001 at 10:16:22 from 203.26.98.4:
In Reply to: Coooee! posted by Dave W on February 18, 2001 at 13:05:21:
I'm not sure about the Aboriginal etymology, Dave, but we used to use it in earnest here in Oz when I was a kid (about half a century ago.) I think I'd possibly be a bit self-conscious about doing so now. But it does seem to carry well, and if you're parted from someone in the bush it's not a bad way to keep in touch. (On the other hand, something else, shouted just as loudly, might also work equally well.) But the accent's on the last syllable, not the first -- Cooeeeeee!