Remember when you were a youngster and you didn't want to touch someone of the opposite sex because ... it varies from place to place.... but here in Florida, we might get "boy cooties" or "girl cooties," so a cooty is more or less germ-like. And at midnight on New Year's Eve, all sorts of people are hugging and (oh no!!!) kissing - which is the worst kind of cootie -- you can even get it from an aunt who loves to hug and kiss.