A cage or enclosed space where chickens are kept; to confine or shut in a small space.
From Middle Dutch 'cupe' (barrel, tub) or Latin 'cupa.' The word originally meant any barrel-shaped container before specializing to chicken enclosures.
The phrase 'go coop' or 'fly the coop' comes from chickens escaping their coops—it became slang for running away from prison or authority! Animals escaping confinement inspired language for humans breaking free.
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