I. ˈskau̇t, usu -au̇d.+V verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English scouten, from Middle French escouter to listen, attend to, from Old French ascouter, from Latin auscultare to listen — more at auscultation
intransitive verb
1. : to explore an area to obtain information (as about an enemy)
scout far and wide into the realm of night — John Milton
2.
a. : to make a search
descended into the basement to scout around for available lumber — H.A.Overstreet
began to scout for a better way to do this — Linotype News
b. : to act as an athletic scout
the jobs of coaching the freshman football team and scouting for the varsity team — Current Biography
3. archaic : to act as a fielder in cricket
transitive verb
1.
a. : to observe in order to obtain information
rode back through the little basin once more carefully scouting the cabin — P.E.Lehman
b. : to observe (as an athlete or an actor) in order to evaluate
whispered phony rumors to the cast telling them that producers were out front to scout them — June Allyson
2. : to explore in order to obtain information : reconnoiter
had his dragoons to scout the territory ahead of him — F.V.W.Mason
3. : to find by making a search
launched the artists he had scouted
scouts his own material — Roger Angell
could scout up clients and talk up lawsuits — Jackson Burgess
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle French escoute act of listening, listener, sentry, from escouter to listen
1.
a. : the act of scouting
set myself upon the scout as often as possible — Daniel Defoe
b. : a scouting expedition : reconnaissance
set out on foot for a week's rapid scout in the hope of finding just the right place for a permanent camp — D.C.Worcester
2.
a. : one sent out to obtain and bring back information (as about the position and movements of an enemy)
b.
(1) : watchman , lookout
(2) archaic : spy , sneak
c. archaic : a reconnoitering party
d. : one employed by a petroleum company to obtain information about prospective oil well locations and operations
3.
a. : a ship sent out in war to reconnoiter and obtain information about the position, movements, and strength of the enemy
b. : air scout 1
4. : a servant to a student at Oxford University
5. : a person whose occupation is searching for something rare or difficult to find
the very prince of scouts for searching blind alleys, cellars, and stalls for rare volumes — Sir Walter Scott
6. archaic
a. : a fielder in cricket
b. : a boy who chases and returns hit balls in baseball batting practice
7.
a. : boy scout
b. : girl scout
8. : fellow , guy — usually used in the phrase good scout
9.
a.
(1) : a person sent out to secure firsthand information about the style of play, tactics, and strength of a rival in sports
(2) : a person sent out by a professional club or by a college to obtain information about players by watching them in action with a view to making recommendations about the acquisition of players
b. : a person sent out to search for talented newcomers to a profession
a scout for the motion-picture industry
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle Dutch schute; akin to Old Norse skūta small ship, Old English scēotan to shoot — more at shoot
: schuyt
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : guillemot
2. : razorbill
V. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse skūta, skūti taunt — more at shout
transitive verb
1. : to make fun of : mock , deride
scouted the stories as he told them
2. : to reject scornfully : dismiss as absurd
economists still scout the idea that the new wave of price hikes spells inflation — Newsweek
intransitive verb
: scoff — usually used with at
scouted at the greenness of the cit who would build his sole piazza to the north — Herman Melville
Synonyms: see despise