hoot

hoot
hoot (v.) "to call or shout in disapproval or scorn," c.1600, probably related to or from 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." ["Alonge 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]

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Hoot — generally refers to the call of an owl.Hoot could also refer to:* Hoot (slang for cocaine) *Hoot (slang for person of Oriental origin) * Hoot (comic book) * Hoot (torpedo) * Hoot (novel), a novel by Carl Hiaasen ** Hoot (film), a 2006 film based… …   Wikipedia

  • Hoot — Hoot, n. 1. A derisive cry or shout. Glanvill. [1913 Webster] 2. The cry of an owl. [1913 Webster] 3. A very funny event, person, or experience; as, watching Jack try to catch that greased pig was a hoot. [PJC] {Hoot owl} (Zo[ o]l.), the barred… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Hoot — (h[=oo]t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Hooted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Hooting}.] [OE. hoten, houten, huten; cf. OSw. huta, Sw. huta ut to take one up sharply, fr. Sw. hut interj., begone! cf. also W. hwt off! off with it! away! hoot!] 1. To cry out or shout… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hoot — ► NOUN 1) a low musical sound made by owls or a similar sound made by a horn, siren, etc. 2) a shout expressing scorn or disapproval. 3) an outburst of laughter. 4) (a hoot) informal an amusing person or thing. ► VERB ▪ make or cause to make a… …   English terms dictionary

  • hoot — hoot1 [ho͞ot] vi. [ME houten, of echoic orig., as also in Swed, Norw huta] 1. to utter its characteristic hollow sound: said of an owl 2. to utter a sound like this 3. to shout or cry out, esp. in scorn or disapproval vt. 1. to express (scorn,… …   English World dictionary

  • Hoot — Hoot, v. t. To assail with contemptuous cries or shouts; to follow with derisive shouts. [1913 Webster] Partridge and his clan may hoot me for a cheat. Swift. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • hoot — index mock (deride) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • hoot — [v] cry boo, catcall, heckle, hiss, howl, jeer, razz*, scoff at, scorn, scream, shout down, whistle; concepts 44,47 …   New thesaurus

  • hoot|er — «HOO tuhr», noun. 1. a person or thing that hoots. 2. an owl. 3. Especially British. a steam whistle or siren. 4. Especially British. an automobile horn. 5. British Slang. a nose …   Useful english dictionary

  • Hoot — 훗 (Hoot) Extended Play von Girls’ Generation Veröffentlichung Korea Sud …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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