toot

¹ American  

[toot] / tut /

verb (used without object)

1. (of a horn or whistle) to give forth its characteristic sound.

2. to make a sound resembling that of a horn, whistle, or the like.

3. to sound or blow a horn, whistle, or wind instrument.

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause (a horn, whistle, or wind instrument) to sound.

2. to sound (notes, music, etc.) on a horn or the like.

noun

1. an act or sound of tooting.

2. Slang. cocaine.

toot ² American  

[toot] / tut /

noun

Slang.

1. a period or instance of drunken revelry; binge; spree.

   Those idiots went on a toot last night and spent the night in the slammer.

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toot ³ American  

[toot] / tʊt /

noun

Australian Informal.

1. lavatory; toilet.

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toot ⁴ American  

[toot] / tʊt /

noun

Chiefly Pennsylvania German.

1. a paper bag.

2. a paper cone used as a container.

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toot ¹ British  

/ tuːt /

verb

1. to give or cause to give (a short blast, hoot, or whistle)

   to toot a horn

   to toot a blast

   the train tooted

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noun

1. the sound made by or as if by a horn, whistle, etc

2. slang any drug for snorting, esp cocaine

3. slang a drinking spree

4. slang a lavatory

toot ² British  

/ tuːt /

noun

1. an informal name for tutu 2

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Other Word Forms

• tooter noun

Etymology

Origin of toot¹

First recorded in 1500–10; akin to Low German, German tuten, Dutch toeten, Swedish tuta in the same sense; imitative of the sound; 1975–80 toot ¹ for def. 7

Origin of toot²

First recorded in 1670–80; origin uncertain

Origin of toot³

First recorded in 1945–50; perhaps jocular alteration of toilet

Origin of toot⁴

From Pennsylvania Dutch dutt; compare German Tüte, from Low German tüte “something horn-shaped, paper rolled into the shape of a horn”; toot ¹

Explanation

Toot is both the act of blowing on a horn and the sound that comes out when you do. The word is fun to say, a favorite of children pretending to be cars. It suggests a kind of merry, or at least chipper, sensibility. Speaking of merriment, toot can also refer to a night of drinking and carousing. Light, fun drinking: think 1920s flappers dancing in fountains, not hardcore alcoholics with bottles in paper bags. It's the car behind you letting you know the light has changed or the cheerful sound of a tugboat asking larger ships to make way. Even "tooting your own horn" is just not that serious — it's a lighthearted spin on the otherwise obnoxious act of bragging.

Example Sentences

The morning after the ceremony, as they waved off guests who were returning to the mainland, the crew saluted the newlyweds with a toot of the horn.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2024

“I think it might’ve been a little toot, might’ve been something else, something a little extra,” he joked during the interview.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2023

Why barricade Holgate for three blocks but leave it open a couple blocks farther inland, where Sound Transit’s trains toot their way through a dangerous crossing?

From Seattle Times • Jun. 20, 2023

Not everything is perfect rainbows and unicorns, and I don't toot glitter.

From Salon • Jan. 29, 2023

I heard the toot of a horn and saw the Sub-Debs leaving.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Related Words

• honk