- flout
- flout 1550s, perhaps a special use of M.E. flowten "to play the flute" (Cf. M.Du. fluyten "to play the flute," also "to jeer"). Related: Flouted; flouting.
Etymology dictionary. 2014.
flout
Look at other dictionaries:
flout´er — flout «flowt», verb, noun. –v.t. to treat with contempt or scorn; mock; scoff at: »The foolish boy flouted his mother s advice. SYNONYM(S): taunt. –v.i. to show contempt or scorn; mock; scoff: »Ah, you may flout and turn up your faces (Robert… … Useful english dictionary
flout — [flaut] v [T] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Probably from flout to play the flute (14 16 centuries)] to deliberately disobey a law, rule etc, without trying to hide what you are doing ▪ Some companies flout the rules and employ children as young as… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Flout — Flout, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flouted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Flouting}.] [OD. fluyten to play the flute, to jeer, D. fluiten, fr. fluit, fr. French. See {Flute}.] To mock or insult; to treat with contempt. [1913 Webster] Phillida flouts me. Walton.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Flout — Flout, v. i. To practice mocking; to behave with contempt; to sneer; to fleer; often with at. [1913 Webster] Fleer and gibe, and laugh and flout. Swift. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Flout — Flout, n. A mock; an insult. [1913 Webster] Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
flout — flout·er; flout·ing·ly; flout; … English syllables
flout — [ flaut ] verb transitive to deliberately refuse to obey a rule or custom: Skateboarders know they will be prosecuted if they flout the law … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
flout — ► VERB 1) openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention). 2) archaic mock; scoff. USAGE On the confusion of flout and flaunt, see the note at FLAUNT(Cf. ↑flaunt). ORIGIN perhaps from Dutch fluiten whistle, play the flut … English terms dictionary
flout — [flout] vt. [prob. special use of ME flouten, to play the flute, hence, whistle (at)] 1. to mock or scoff at; show scorn or contempt for 2. to openly disregard, as by rejecting, defying, or ignoring vi. to be scornful; show contempt; jeer; scoff… … English World dictionary
flout — I verb affront, be contemptuous of, be disrespectful, be scornful, care nothing for, cavillari, contemn, defy, deride, despise, disdain, disregard, esteem slightly, feel contempt for, fleer, gibe, hold in contempt, hold in derision, hold in… … Law dictionary
