What does coop mean?
A coop is a small enclosure or cage designed to house poultry — most familiarly chickens — protecting them from predators and the elements while giving them space to roost and move about. The word is concrete and practical in everyday use: gardeners talk of building or cleaning out the chicken coop, and farmers of shutting the birds inside it at dusk. Beyond its literal sense, coop has taken on a vivid figurative life through the verb form 'to coop up', meaning to confine someone or something in a narrow space; people commonly say they feel 'cooped up' after spending too long indoors, whether from bad weather, illness, or quarantine. The image is instantly understandable — a creature penned in a small structure — which gives the expression strong emotional resonance. The word is informal-to-neutral in register and equally at home in British and American English, making it both a useful practical term and a durable piece of everyday figurative language.
A cage or small enclosed building in which poultry or other small animals are kept.
"The fox had been trying all week to break into the hen coop."
Most often heard in the compound 'chicken coop'.
To confine someone or something in a restricted space; used almost solely in the phrasal construction 'coop up'.
"Being cooped up in the office all summer made her restless."
Rarely used outside the phrase 'coop up'; the passive 'cooped up' is by far the most common form.
Standard regular plural; used when referring to multiple enclosures.
"Several coops stood along the edge of the farmyard."
The phrase 'cooped up' literally comes from shutting chickens in a cage — and now it describes how humans feel stuck indoors too.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coop
The word coop dates back to Middle English, where it appeared as 'cupe' or similar forms meaning a basket or container, and it likely derives ultimately from Latin 'cupa', meaning a cask or vat — the same root that gave us 'cup' and 'keel'-related vessel words. Over time the meaning narrowed from a general container to specifically a cage or enclosure for poultry. The related verb 'to coop' developed from the practice of putting birds into such enclosures, giving rise to the enduring idiom 'cooped up'.
Related word forms
How coop is actually used
As a verb, 'to coop' survives almost exclusively in the phrasal form 'coop up', meaning to confine someone or something in a small space. The noun is common and informal-neutral in register. The word is also used informally in some regions (especially parts of the US) to refer loosely to any small dwelling or cramped room.
Easily confused with coop
Coop is an enclosure for animals (or, as a verb, to confine), while cope means to deal successfully with a difficult situation.