hoot
pronunciation
How to pronounce hoot in British English:
UK [hu:t]
How to pronounce hoot in American English:
US [hut]
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- Noun:
- a loud raucous cry (as of an owl)
- a cry or noise made to express displeasure or contempt
- something of little value
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- Verb:
- to utter a loud clamorous shout
Word Origin
- hoot (v.)
- "to call or shout in disapproval or scorn," c. 1600, probably related to or a variant of Middle English houten, huten "to shout, call out" (c. 1200), probably ultimately imitative. First used of bird cries, especially that of the owl, mid-15c. Related: Hooted; hooting. As a noun from mid-15c. Meaning "a laugh, something funny" is first recorded 1942. Slang sense of "smallest amount or particle" (the hoot you don't give when you don't care) is from 1891. "A dod blasted ole fool!" answered the captain, who, till now, had been merely an amused on-looker. "Ye know all this rumpus wont do nobuddy a hoot o' good--not a hoot." ["Along Traverse Shores," Traverse City, Michigan, 1891] Hooter in the same sense is from 1839. HOOTER. Probably a corruption of iota. Common in New York in such phrases as "I don't care a hooter for him." "This note ain't worth a hooter." [John Russell Bartlett, "Dictionary of Americanisms," 1877]
Example
- 1. I heard an owl screech and hoot .
- 2. Why did he hoot at me ?
- 3. This is hoot . I 'm coming with three friendlies .
- 4. I don 't give a hoot about that thing there .
- 5. You may see just two bright yellow eyes staring at you or hear a loud hoot .