scout

[ skout ]

/ skaʊt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR scout ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a soldier, warship, airplane, etc., employed in reconnoitering.

a person sent out to obtain information.

Sports.

a person who observes and reports on the techniques, players, etc., of opposing teams.
a person sent out by a team to observe and recommend new talent for recruitment.

a talent scout, as in the entertainment field.

an act or instance of reconnoitering, inspecting, observing, etc.

(sometimes initial capital letter) a Boy Scout or Girl Scout.

Informal. a person: He's a good scout.

a man acting as servant to a student at Oxford University.

verb (used without object)

to act as a scout; reconnoiter.

to make a search; hunt.

to work as a talent scout.

verb (used with object)

to examine, inspect, or observe for the purpose of obtaining information; reconnoiter: to scout the enemy's defenses.

to seek; search for (usually followed by out or up): to scout up a date for Friday night.

to find by seeking, searching, or looking (usually followed by out or up): Scout out a good book for me to read.

Nearby words

Origin of scout

1300–50; (v.) Middle English skowten < Old French escouter, escolter, ascolter (French écouter to listen) < Late Latin ascultāre, Latin auscultāre to listen; see auscultate; (noun) < Middle French escoute, derivative of escouter

Definition for scout (2 of 2)

scout

[ skout ]

/ skaʊt /

verb (used with object)

to treat with scorn; dismiss.

to make fun of; deride; mock.

verb (used without object)

to scoff; jeer.

Origin of scout

1595–1605; perhaps < Old Norse skūta, skūt abuse, angry words. See shout

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

Examples from the Web for scout

The brokers then scout out potential “crew members” who can earn substantial discounts for working the journey.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
From there, he led groups of Kansa and Osage to scout for Spanish garrisons.
Those Kansas City Blues: A Family History|Katie Baker|October 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The next year he sat in the living room and listened again while Fred Pinckney, the Detroit scout, talked.
Gordie Howe Hockey’s Greatest War Horse|W.C. Heinz|May 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I saw one game last year when this kid touched the ball about twice in the entire second half,” says one NBA scout.
Shaq, Year One|Charles P. Pierce|May 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST

According to the Save Our Scout Camps website, the lawsuit remains active.
Why Are Girl Scout Camps Being Closed?|Alessandra Rafferty|January 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"That's just fine, Oscar," commented the scout master, as though pleased at so great a show of forethought in two of his charges.
Camp Fires of the Wolf Patrol|Alan Douglas
So saying, the scout laid before his canine friend the last piece of his dried buffalo meat.
Indian Child Life|Charles A. Eastman
The scout came out on a small rise where the rails of the fence were cloaked on his side by brush.
Ride Proud, Rebel!|Andre Alice Norton
Meantime, Jim had removed some rails from the fence and was bringing them to the scout's aid.
Girl Scouts in the Adirondacks|Lillian Elizabeth Roy
Besides, a scout is supposed to be wideawake and on the alert.
The Boy Scouts of the Naval Reserve|Robert Shaler

British Dictionary definitions for scout (1 of 3)

scout

/ (skaʊt) /

noun

a person, ship, or aircraft sent out to gain information

military a person or unit despatched to reconnoitre the position of the enemy

sport a person employed by a club to seek new players

the act or an instance of scouting

(esp at Oxford University) a college servantCompare gyp 3

obsolete (in Britain) a patrolman of a motoring organization

informal a fellow or companion

verb

to examine or observe (anything) in order to obtain information

(tr; sometimes foll by out or up) to seek

(intr) to act as a scout for a sports club

(intr; foll by about or around) to go in search (for)

Derived Formsscouter, noun

Word Origin for scout

C14: from Old French ascouter to listen to, from Latin auscultāre to auscultate

British Dictionary definitions for scout (2 of 3)

scout

/ (skaʊt) /

verb

archaic to reject (a person or thing) with contempt

Word Origin for scout

C17: from Old Norse skūta derision

British Dictionary definitions for scout (3 of 3)

Scout

/ (skaʊt) /

noun

(sometimes not capital) a boy or (in some countries) a girl who is a member of a worldwide movement (the Scout Association) founded as the Boy Scouts in England in 1908 by Lord Baden-Powell with the aim of developing character and responsibilitySee also Air Scout, Girl Scout, Guide, Sea Scout, Venture Scout

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 scout (1 of 3)

scout

v.1

late 14c., "observe or explore as a scout, travel in search of information," from Old French escouter "to listen, heed" (Modern French écouter), from Latin auscultare "to listen to, give heed to" (see auscultate). Related: Scouted; scouting.

Word Origin and History for scout (1 of 3)

scout

v.2

"to reject with scorn," 1710, earlier "to mock" (c.1600), of Scandinavian origin (cf. Old Norse skuta, skute "to taunt"), probably from a source related to shout (v.). Related: Scouted; scouting; scoutingly.

Word Origin and History for scout (2 of 3)

scout

"person who scouts, one sent out to gain information," 1550s, from scout (v.1). Boy Scout is from 1908. Scout's honor attested from 1908.

Idioms and Phrases with scout

scout

see good egg (scout).

scout

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of scout

Definition for scout (2 of 2)

scout

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

Origin of scout

Examples from the Web for scout

British Dictionary definitions for scout (1 of 3)

scout

noun

verb

Word Origin for scout

British Dictionary definitions for scout (2 of 3)

scout

verb

Word Origin for scout

British Dictionary definitions for scout (3 of 3)

Scout

noun

Word Origin and History for scout (1 of 3)

scout

Word Origin and History for scout (1 of 3)

scout

Word Origin and History for scout (2 of 3)

scout

Idioms and Phrases with scout

scout