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hoot

[hoot]

Origin

verb (used without object)

to cry out or shout, especially in disapproval or derision.

to utter the cry characteristic of an owl.

to utter a similar sound.

Chiefly British. to blow a horn or whistle; toot.

verb (used with object)

to assail with shouts of disapproval or derision: The fans hooted the umpire.

to drive out, off, or away by hooting.

to express in hoots: The crowd hooted its disagreement with the speaker.

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Hoot is one of our favorite verbs.

So is skedaddle. Does it mean:

chat, to converse

to run away hurriedly; flee.

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noun

the cry of an owl.

any similar sound, as an inarticulate shout.

10.

a cry or shout, especially of disapproval or derision.

11.

British. a horn, siren, or whistle, especially a factory whistle.

12.

Informal. the least bit of concern, interest, or thought; trifle: I don't give a hoot.

EXPAND

13.

Slang. an extremely funny person, situation, or event: Your mother's a hoot when she tells about her escapades in boarding school.

COLLAPSE

Origin:
1150–1200; Middle English hoten, huten, houten (v.); perhaps imitative

Related forms

hoot·ing·ly, adverb

un·hoot·ed, adjective

Synonyms
1, 5. jeer, boo, hiss. 5. razz.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

interjection Scot. and North England.

(used as an expression of impatience, dissatisfaction, objection, or dislike.)

Also, hoots.

Origin:
1675–85; compare Swedish hut, Welsh hwt, Irish ut begone!

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To HOOT

Collins

World English Dictionary

hoot¹ (huːt)

—n
1.	the mournful wavering cry of some owls
2.	a similar sound, such as that of a train whistle
3.	a jeer of derision
4.	informal an amusing person or thing: the weekend was a hoot
5.	not give a hoot not to care at all

—vb
6.	(often foll by at) to jeer or yell (something) contemptuously (at someone)
7.	(tr) to drive (political speakers, actors on stage, etc) off or away by hooting
8.	(intr) to make a hoot
9.	(Brit) (intr) to blow a horn

[C13 hoten, of imitative origin]

hoot or hoots² (huːt, huːts)

—*interj*
	an exclamation of impatience or dissatisfaction: a supposed Scotticism

[C17: of unknown origin]

hoots or hoots²

—*interj*

[C17: of unknown origin]

hoot³ (huːt)

—n
	(Austral), (NZ) a slang word for money

[from Māori utu price]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

hoot

c.1200, "to call or shout in disapproval or scorn," related to houten, huten "to shout, call out" (early 13c.), probably imitative. First used of bird cries, especially that of the owl, mid-15c. The noun meaning "a laugh, something funny" is first recorded 1942. Slang sense of "smallest amount or particle"

EXPAND

(esp. in don't give a hoot) is from 1878.

COLLAPSE

Slang Dictionary

hoot definition

in.
to laugh loudly. : The audience screamed and hooted with their appreciation.
n.
a joke; something laughable. : The whole business was a terrific hoot.

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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American Heritage

Idioms & Phrases

hoot

see not give a damn (hoot).