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scout1

[skout]
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noun
  1. a soldier, warship, airplane, etc., employed in reconnoitering.
  2. a person sent out to obtain information.
  3. Sports.
    1. a person who observes and reports on the techniques, players, etc., of opposing teams.
    2. a person sent out by a team to observe and recommend new talent for recruitment.
  4. a talent scout, as in the entertainment field.
  5. an act or instance of reconnoitering, inspecting, observing, etc.
  6. (sometimes initial capital letter) a Boy Scout or Girl Scout.
  7. Informal. a person: He's a good scout.
  8. a man acting as servant to a student at Oxford University.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to act as a scout; reconnoiter.
  2. to make a search; hunt.
  3. to work as a talent scout.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to examine, inspect, or observe for the purpose of obtaining information; reconnoiter: to scout the enemy's defenses.
  2. to seek; search for (usually followed by out or up): to scout up a date for Friday night.
  3. to find by seeking, searching, or looking (usually followed by out or up): Scout out a good book for me to read.
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Origin of scout1

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

scout2

[skout]
verb (used with object)
  1. to treat with scorn; dismiss.
  2. to make fun of; deride; mock.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to scoff; jeer.
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Origin of scout2

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. 2018

Related Words

detectiverecruiterexploreinspectexaminelookoutsleuthpatrolescortpicketspyrunneradventurervanguardoutpostpioneerguardadvanceprecursorexplorer

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British Dictionary definitions for scout

scout1

noun
  1. a person, ship, or aircraft sent out to gain information
  2. military a person or unit despatched to reconnoitre the position of the enemy
  3. sport a person employed by a club to seek new players
  4. the act or an instance of scouting
  5. (esp at Oxford University) a college servantCompare gyp 3
  6. obsolete (in Britain) a patrolman of a motoring organization
  7. informal a fellow or companion
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verb
  1. to examine or observe (anything) in order to obtain information
  2. (tr; sometimes foll by out or up) to seek
  3. (intr) to act as a scout for a sports club
  4. (intr; foll by about or around) to go in search (for)
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Derived Formsscouter, noun

Word Origin

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

scout2

verb
  1. archaic to reject (a person or thing) with contempt
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Word Origin

C17: from Old Norse skūta derision

Scout

noun
  1. (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
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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

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.

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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.

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n.

"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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper

Idioms and Phrases with scout

scout

see good egg (scout).

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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.