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 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.

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 /

verb

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

scout

²

/ 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

³

/ 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

Derived Forms

• ˈscouter, 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

C17: from Old Norse skūta derision

Origin of scout²

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

Idioms and Phrases

see good egg (scout) .

Example Sentences

All started their college careers as overlooked prospects, and they attended small schools before transferring to Power Five programs and catching the attention of Rams scouts and general manager Les Snead.

From Los Angeles Times

There were reports, external that the Blues sent scouts to watch Torino's game against Inter Milan to cast their eye over Ricci.

From BBC

Consider the first visit an inspirational scouting trip.

From Los Angeles Times

The British '90s supermodel is known for her young start in the industry after she was scouted by a modeling agency at 15.

From Salon

It's a common sight -- ants marching in an orderly line over and around obstacles from their nest to a food source, guided by scent trails left by scouts marking the find.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• examine
• explore
• inspect