scout English · revision 10759

+ Scout, to search or spy, is from Old French escouter, to listen; scout, to reject with scorn, is of Scandinavian origin.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /skaʊt/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ {{homograph|1|spy, search}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1380|origins=fro escouter|origins=la auscultare}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is, with loss of the first syllable, [[bor|fro|escouter|t=to listen, heed]] (modern écouter),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) a variant of ascouter, from Vulgar Latin *ascultāre,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986) from Latin auscultāre, to listen (see [[auscultation]]),^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) which Barnhart derives from a form meaning “heard with one's own ears”, related to auris, ear.^(Barnhart 1988) Word Origins notes that the first scouts used their ears rather than their eyes.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To search or spy out: probably about 1380,^(Barnhart 1988) the late 14th century in Etymonline.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle English scout-watch, a sentinel, is from the late 14th century.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The noun, an act of scouting, is from 1553, and a person sent ahead to reconnoitre from 1555, from Middle French escoute, a listener, sentinel.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)^(MWU 2024) The ''Boy Scout'' is from 1908, as is ''Scout'' as a short form,^(Etymonline) and a talent scout, who looks for promising players or performers, belongs to modern usage.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023) At Oxford a scout is a college servant.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1380 – to search, spy.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1553 – an act of scouting.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1555 – a person who scouts.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * 1908 – Boy Scout.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A person, ship or aircraft sent ahead to gather [[information]], especially about an enemy.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A member of the Scouts, a youth organization.^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A person who looks for talented players or performers.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(Oxford)'' A college servant.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To explore or search an area to gather information; to [[reconnoitre]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To look for and assess talented people.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[scouting]]

+ * [[scoutmaster]]

+ * [[talent scout]]

+

+ {{homograph|2|reject scornfully}}

+

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1605|origins=non skúta}}

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from a Scandinavian source: compare [[bor|non|skúta|t=to taunt]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) which Etymonline relates to skotja, to shoot, and so to [[shout]].^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ To mock or treat with contempt: 1605, about 1600 in Etymonline, now obsolete.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ To reject an idea with scorn is from 1710.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Middle English scoute, a wretch or rogue (late 14th century), may be related.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1605 – to mock.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1710 – to reject with scorn.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(archaic)'' To reject an idea or suggestion with scorn.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[auscultation]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}