lout

¹ American  

[lout] / laʊt /

noun

1. an awkward, stupid person; clumsy, ill-mannered boor; oaf.

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verb (used with object)

1. to flout; treat with contempt; scorn.

lout ² American  

[lout] / laʊt /

verb (used with or without object)

1. to bend, stoop, or bow, especially in respect or courtesy.

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lout ¹ British  

/ laʊt /

noun

1. a crude or oafish person; boor

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lout ² British  

/ laʊt /

verb

1. archaic (intr) to bow or stoop

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Etymology

Origin of lout¹

First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps special use of lout ²

Origin of lout²

1250–1300; Middle English louten, Old English lūtan; cognate with Old Norse lūta; akin to little

Example Sentences

"It's possible that their lout of a client insisted that the lawyers waste their meeting with general grievances about prosecutorial misconduct that already have been rejected by the courts," tweeted former U.S.

From Salon

He’s a lout, he’s a slob, he’s a mess — and he is enormously fine company on the page.

From New York Times

His name is Neil Gibson, in homage, one assumes, to the cyberpunk writers Neil Stephenson and William Gibson, even though he’s a lout and, to the best of my knowledge, Stephenson and Gibson are not.

From New York Times

At light speed, the action zips to Siberia, where it momentarily bogs down in an extended dance-off between a bald and shirtless Russian lout and Sonic and Tails.

From Seattle Times

There could be no doubt The man was a faker, a brute and a lout.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• brute
• buffoon
• bumpkin
• slob