hoot¹

[hoot]

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!

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 hoot¹

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

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

Synonyms

1, 5. jeer, boo, hiss. 5. razz.

hoot²

or hoots

[hoot]

interjection Scot. and North England.

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

Origin of hoot²

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hoots

Contemporary Examples

“I am now a grandmother,” she said to hoots from the audience.
If Clinton Runs for President, Cuomo’s on Board
David Freedlander
October 23, 2014
All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.
Jake Gyllenhaal and More Actors Stand Up for Vet Awareness
Alyse Walsh
May 9, 2013
Lastly, at his speech last night, Cruz got lots of hoots and hollers for his stump speech about guns/growth/freedom.
Why Does Ted Cruz Inspire Such Animosity?
David Frum
May 3, 2013

Historical Examples

But, hoots; I was nought but a body born a wee before her time.
The Christian
Hall Caine
Not that I give two hoots about what happens to Dennison, mind!
Once to Every Man
Larry Evans
Not from the hoots and the jeers, or vegetables—or even the half-bricks—eh?
Sonnie-Boy's People
James B. Connolly
Giovanni raised his arms tragically; the hoots clattered to the floor.
The Lure of the Mask
Harold MacGrath
In nature, screeches and hoots, in finite sequences, signal danger.
The Civilization of Illiteracy
Mihai Nadin

British Dictionary definitions for hoots

hoot¹

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

C13 hoten, of imitative origin

hoot²

hoots (huːts)

interjection

an exclamation of impatience or dissatisfaction: a supposed Scotticism

Word Origin

C17: of unknown origin

hoot³

noun

Australian and NZ a slang word for money

Word Origin

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 hoots

hoot

v.

"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 hoots

hoot

see not give a damn (hoot).

hoot.css-pdubzd{font-size:17px;vertical-align:super;}1

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}hoot1

Synonyms

hoot2

or hoots

Origin of hoot2

Related Words

Examples from the Web for hoots

Contemporary Examples

“I am now a grandmother,” she said to hoots from the audience.

All went lame; all blind; Drunk with fatigue; deaf even to the hoots Of tired, outstripped Five-Nines that dropped behind.

Lastly, at his speech last night, Cruz got lots of hoots and hollers for his stump speech about guns/growth/freedom.

Historical Examples

But, hoots; I was nought but a body born a wee before her time.

Not that I give two hoots about what happens to Dennison, mind!

Not from the hoots and the jeers, or vegetables—or even the half-bricks—eh?

Giovanni raised his arms tragically; the hoots clattered to the floor.

In nature, screeches and hoots, in finite sequences, signal danger.

hoot1

Word Origin

hoot2

hoots (huːts)

Word Origin

hoot3

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for hoots

hoot

v.

Idioms and Phrases with hoots

hoot

hoot¹

Origin of hoot¹

hoot²

Origin of hoot²

hoot¹

hoot²

hoot³