English Explanatory Dictionary

lout

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A troublemaker, often violent; a rude violent person; a yob.
  2. A clownish, awkward fellow; a bumpkin.
verb
  1. To treat as a lout or fool; to neglect; to disappoint.
verb
  1. To bend, bow, stoop.

Pronunciation

/laʊt/ /lʌʊt/ en-us-lout.ogg

Word forms

lout louts louting louted

Etymology

Of dialectal origin, likely derived from Middle English louten (“to bow, bend low, stoop over”), from Old English lūtan (“to bow, bend forward, stoop”), from Proto-West Germanic *lūtan, from Proto-Germanic *lūtaną (“to bow down, lout”). Alternatively, derived from Middle English louten (“to hide, lurk”), from Old English lūtian (“to lurk, skulk”), from Proto-West Germanic *lūtēn (“to be hidden, be concealed”). Compare Old Norse lútr (“stooping”), Gothic 𐌻𐌿𐍄𐍉𐌽 (lutōn, “to deceive”). Non-Germanic cognates are probably Old Church Slavonic лоудити (luditi, “to deceive”), Serbo-Croatian lud and Albanian lut (“to beg, pray”).

Synonyms

agitator bad boy bad news bear beggar bhoy blackguard booger boot boy bovver boy brat brawler breedbate buffoon bugger bully charva cutup devil elf enfant terrible firebrand gadfly hell-raiser hood hoodlum hool hoolie hooligan hothead imp inciter initiator instigator jackanapes joker jokester kindle-coal kindle-fire knave lout makebate minx mischief mischief-maker miscreant ne'er-do-well pixie pot stirrer practical joker prankster puck punk rabble rouser rakeshame rantipole rapscallion rascal rogue roly-poly

Derived words

belout lager lout litter lout loutish loutsome louty Lycra lout Saga lout
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