galoot
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of galoot
First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain
Explanation
A galoot is a clumsy, foolish, or silly person. If your brother stumbles and drops an entire pizza on the kitchen floor, you'll be tempted to call him a galoot. Galoot is an informal word for a fool or a goofy guy. Many TV and film comedies feature a character who's a galoot, someone to laugh at for his stupidity or clumsiness. This word is used in both the US and Scotland, and its origin is uncertain, although it most likely began as nautical slang for "green" or new sailors, especially if they were marines or soldiers.
Vocabulary lists containing galoot
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
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A Long Way from Chicago
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American Gods
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Stefan, if something of a sad sack, is also a charming big galoot who sincerely believes in love.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 7, 2022
It’s always difficult to rank the ol’ galoot, but the volatility was especially acute this week.
From Slate • Jan. 17, 2020
They called him Mongo, after the illiterate galoot played by Alex Karras in the Mel Brooks movie “Blazing Saddles.”
From New York Times • Jan. 16, 2020
It’s adorable, and James Taylor is a big old good-natured galoot who is obviously way too nice for JoJo.
From Time • Jun. 6, 2016
Who would let such a galoot in the door?
From "Milkweed" by Jerry Spinelli
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
