nowt

¹ American  

[nout] / naʊt /

noun

Scot. and North England.

1. an ox.

2. a herd of cattle.

---

nowt ² American  

[noht] / noʊt /

noun

British Dialect.

1. naught; nothing.

---

nowt ¹ British  

/ naʊt /

noun

1. a dialect word for nothing

---

nowt ² British  

/ naʊt /

noun

1. a dialect word for bullock cattle

---

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• nowt
  plural

Etymology

Origin of nowt

1150–1200; Middle English < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse naut, neat ²

Example Sentences

"If in doubt, say nowt" is how you might colloquially describe the approach, resisting the temptation to be drawn into commentary about the president's actions for fear of provoking a blast of his ire.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2025

But for U.S. fans of “Happy Valley,” which returns May 22 on AMC+, BBC America and Acorn TV, it is, as they would say in the north of England, nowt.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2023

BST12:17 27 min Still they go through the phases, but there’s nowt doing and we go back for a penalty against Pape, who tackled the scrum-half without the ball.

From The Guardian • Oct. 11, 2015

He said his superior's deputy Ch Supt Ian Mountain told him: "You were not there. It is nowt to do with you."

From BBC • Sep. 5, 2014

“It be all fool-talk, lock, stock, and barrel; that’s what it be, an’ nowt else.

From "Dracula" by Bram Stoker