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

In this sense, “Great Gold Bird” will recall another long-running immersive Los Angeles show, the Scout Expedition-created “The Nest,” which is currently staged out of Hatch Escapes.

From Los Angeles Times

The club runs youth programmes and football teams for boys and girls in the area, having originally been opened as a boys-only club by the founder of the Scout Movement, Robert Baden-Powell.

From BBC

Scout A pointed to the matchup between the Dodgers lineup, which is leading the postseason in runs, and Yankees pitching staff, which had the lowest postseason ERA of any of the four league championship teams.

From Los Angeles Times

“This investment provides the opportunity to implement initiatives that will have a lasting impact on our Girl Scout councils, volunteers, and the girls and families we serve,” Girl Scouts said on its website.

From Salon

“Nobody’s mandating anything to you. If you want to drive, like I do, a ‘79 International Harvester Scout that is sweet as hell … knock yourself out.”

From BBC

Related Words

• examine
• explore
• inspect