hoot

[ hoot ]

/ hut /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hoot ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to cry out or shout, especially in disapproval or derision.

to utter the cry characteristic of an owl.

to utter a similar sound.

Chiefly British. to blow a horn or whistle; toot.

verb (used with object)

to assail with shouts of disapproval or derision: The fans hooted the umpire.

to drive out, off, or away by hooting.

to express in hoots: The crowd hooted its disagreement with the speaker.

noun

the cry of an owl.

any similar sound, as an inarticulate shout.

a cry or shout, especially of disapproval or derision.

British. a horn, siren, or whistle, especially a factory whistle.

Informal. the least bit of concern, interest, or thought; trifle: His religion doesn't matter a hoot to me.

Slang. an extremely funny person, situation, or event: Your cousin is such a hoot!

Nearby words

hoorn, hoosegow, hoosier, hoosier cabinet, hoosier state, hoot, hoot owl, hootch, hootchinoo, hootchy-kootchy, hootenanny

Idioms

not give/care a hoot, Informal. to not care at all: I don't give a hoot.Also not give/care two hoots.

Origin of hoot

1150–1200; Middle English hoten, huten, houten (verb); perhaps imitative

SYNONYMS FOR hoot

1, 5 jeer, boo, hiss.

5 razz.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR hoot ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formshoot·ing·ly, adverbun·hoot·ed, adjective

Definition for hoot (2 of 2)

hoot

or hoots

[ hoot ]

/ hut /

interjection Scot. and North England.

(used as an expression of impatience, dissatisfaction, objection, or dislike.)

Origin of hoot

1675–85; compare Swedish hut, Welsh hwt, Irish ut begone!

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hoot

Hooters is cleverly asking me to “Give a Hoot” about breast cancer.
The Misogynistic Companies Jumping On The Breast Cancer Bandwagon|Emily Shire|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I thought you were a hoot on Community as the lawyer for the estate of Pierce.
Kentucky’s Finest Antihero: Walton Goggins on Justified’s Chameleon Villain|Allen Barra|February 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Explosion at the Wig Factory was about as big of a hoot as you can comfortably call a tragedy like an explosion.
‘American Hustle’ Is Overrated|Kevin Fallon|January 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Palestinian Authority didn't give a hoot what the reasons were.
If You Build It, They Will Skate|Maysoon Zayid|July 17, 2013|DAILY BEAST

“ John F. Kennedy Jr. was a hoot to do at his first convention,” Sheehan says.
Today's King's Speech Guru|Sandra McElwaine|February 26, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Then from the little clump of trees came the hoot of an owl that caused him to straighten up quickly and to listen intently.
The Cave of Gold|Everett McNeil
After a time the people began to murmur at all this delay and messing about, and presently some of them began to groan and hoot.
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists|Robert Tressell
Not a breath of air, not a shriek from a toad, not a hoot from an owl; a melancholy numbness lay heavy on everything.
The Works of Guy de Maupassant, Volume VIII.|Guy de Maupassant
I concluded I would fire a couple of gunshots and see if I could get an answer, but got no reply save the hoot of an owl.
Fifty Years a Hunter and Trapper|Eldred Nathaniel Woodcock
Guess I must have been away off, and it was only a hoot owl after all; but I thought I heard some one cough!
Storm-Bound|Alan Douglas

British Dictionary definitions for hoot (1 of 3)

hoot

/ (huːt) /

noun

the mournful wavering cry of some owls

a similar sound, such as that of a train whistle

a jeer of derision

informal an amusing person or thingthe weekend was a hoot

not give a hoot not to care at all

verb

(often foll by at) to jeer or yell (something) contemptuously (at someone)

(tr) to drive (political speakers, actors on stage, etc) off or away by hooting

(intr) to make a hoot

(intr) British to blow a horn

Word Origin for hoot

C13 hoten, of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for hoot (2 of 3)

hoot

hoots (huːts)

/ (huːt) /

interjection

an exclamation of impatience or dissatisfaction: a supposed Scotticism

Word Origin for hoot

C17: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for hoot (3 of 3)

hoot

/ (huːt) /

noun

Australian and NZ a slang word for money

Word Origin for hoot

from Māori utu price

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hoot

hoot

"to call or shout in disapproval or scorn," c.1600, probably related to or from huten, "to shout, call out" (c.1200), probably ultimately imitative. First used of bird cries, especially that of the owl, mid-15c. Related: Hooted; hooting. As a noun from mid-15c. Meaning "a laugh, something funny" is first recorded 1942. Slang sense of "smallest amount or particle" (The hoot you don't give when you don't care) is from 1891.

"A dod blasted ole fool!" answered the captain, who, till now, had been merely an amused on-looker. "Ye know all this rumpus wont do nobuddy a hoot o' good--not a hoot." ["Alonge Traverse Shores," Traverse City, Michigan, 1891]

Hooter in the same sense is from 1839.

HOOTER. Probably a corruption of iota. Common in New York in such phrases as "I don't care a hooter for him." "This note ain't worth a hooter." [John Russell Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1877]

Idioms and Phrases with hoot

hoot

see not give a damn (hoot).

hoot

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of hoot

Definition for hoot (2 of 2)

hoot

or hoots

interjection Scot. and North England.

Origin of hoot

Examples from the Web for hoot

British Dictionary definitions for hoot (1 of 3)

hoot

noun

verb

Word Origin for hoot

British Dictionary definitions for hoot (2 of 3)

hoot

hoots (huːts)

interjection

Word Origin for hoot

British Dictionary definitions for hoot (3 of 3)

hoot

noun

Word Origin for hoot

Word Origin and History for hoot

hoot

Idioms and Phrases with hoot

hoot