scout

¹

[skout]

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 Scout 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.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a scout; reconnoiter.

2. to make a search; hunt.

3. to work as a talent scout.

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 orup ).

   to scout up a date for Friday night.

3. to find by seeking, searching, or looking (usually followed by out orup ).

   Scout out a good book for me to read.

scout

²

[skout]

verb (used with object)

1. to treat with scorn; dismiss.

2. to make fun of; deride; mock.

verb (used without object)

1. to scoff; jeer.

scout

¹

/ skaʊt /

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 servant Compare gyp 3

6. obsolete,  (in Britain) a patrolman of a motoring organization

7. informal,  a fellow or companion

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)

Scout

²

/ skaʊt /

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 responsibility See also Air Scout Girl Scout Guide Sea Scout Venture Scout

scout

³

/ skaʊt /

verb

1. archaic,  to reject (a person or thing) with contempt

Other Word Forms

• scouter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of scout¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English verb scouten. skowten, from Old French escouter, escolter, ascolter ( French écouter “to listen”) from Late Latin ascultāre, Latin auscultāre “to listen, listen to”; Middle English noun scoute-, from Old French escoute, derivative of escouter; auscultation

Origin of scout²

First recorded in 1595–1605; perhaps from Old Norse skūta, skūti “abuse, taunting”; shout

Word History and Origins

Origin of scout¹

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

Origin of scout²

C17: from Old Norse skūta derision

Idioms and Phrases

see good egg (scout).

Example Sentences

The next morning, he said, he had breakfast and then took off his pack — with all his survival gear, including a rescue device — to scout his way.

From Los Angeles Times

Black film scout Striker takes an Antarctic cruise that winds up with passengers stranded on an island following a kayaking expedition.

From Los Angeles Times

“They did scouts together, Sunday school together, played soccer for the same club, almost in the same positions. They were inseparable.”

From Los Angeles Times

Asked if he thought his performance Thursday would cause scouts to ponder which is his best sport, he called it “a good start.”

From Los Angeles Times

His limited body of work led to a wide range of scouting opinions.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• examine 
• explore 
• inspect