Green’s Dictionary of Slang

drunk as a cootie adj.

very drunk.

1827		Mass. Spy 22 Aug. n.p.: A few jolly topers, who wallowed in the sand, ‘as drunk as a cooter’ [DA].
1851		‘Losing Game of Poker’ in Burke Polly Peablossom’s Wedding 45: I can manage to have him as drunk as a cooter by dark.
1890		Kipling ‘The Big Drunk Draf’’ Soldiers Three (1907) 35: ’Twas not me oi alone that cud tell Peg was dhrunk as a coot.
1908		L.W. Payne Jr ‘Word-List From East Alabama’ in DN III:iv 307: drunk as a coot(er) Very drunk.
1934		Dly Times (Davenport, IA) 14 Sept. 22/4: ‘She wasn’t sober either ’ [...] ‘Tight as a coot’.
1938		G. Kersh Night and the City 195: ‘I hear Nosseross was drunk.’ ‘Drunk as a coot. Poor old Nosseross!’.
1945		Sphere (London) 17 Mar. 24/3: This goat is a perfect curse. he drinks alcohol and gets as tight as a coot.
1949		N. Algren Man with the Golden Arm 123: [She] rushed Grandma, drunk as a coot, down the hall and down the steps.
1950		H. Dowd Night Air 15: ‘Where was I then?’ ‘Paris, probably. With Sam, drunk as a cootie.’.
1952		J. Jones From Here to Eternity (1998) 861: The son of a bitch is drunk as a coot.
1962		(con. WWII) J.O. Killens And Then We Heard The Thunder (1964) 290: I swear to God he’s drunk as a cooter.
1968–70		in DARE I 770/1: drunk as a cootie Very drunk.
1968		Sydney Morn. Herald 1 jan. 15/9: I had a hot rum to warm me up and now I feel tight as a coot.
1978		F. Norman Dead Butler Caper 150: She was drunk as a coot.
1979		Eble Campus Sl. Mar. 7: tight as a coot – drunk.
1979		G. Swarthout Skeletons 80: They were coot-drunk.
1981		S. King Cujo (1982) 40: Gary was [...] as drunk as a coot.
1998		C. Warloe From Daughters to Mothers 301: Before the event ended, however, Sidney was drunk-drunk; you know, drunk as a cootie.
1999		S. Grafton O is for Outlaw (2000) 391: The last time I’d seen him he was drunk as a coot, passed out on his cot.
2005		(con. 1900s) T.J. Madsen Sinnin’ – All Over the Place 76: One night this Doc, drunk as a cootie as usual, was sitting in the bar.