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   Scout

   /skout/

   

   noun

   • 1. a soldier or other person sent out ahead of a main force so as to gather information about the enemy's position, strength, or movements: "forward scouts reported that the enemy were massing at two points ahead" Similar lookoutlookout man/womanoutrideradvance guardvanguardspyavant-courier
   • ▪ an instance of gathering information, especially by reconnoitering an area: "I returned from a lengthy scout around the area" Similar reconnaissancereconnoiterexplorationsearchexpeditioninformal:recceshuftirecon
   • ▪ short for talent scout
   • 2. a ship or aircraft employed for reconnaissance, especially a small, fast aircraft: "a single-seater scout"
   • 3. a Boy Scout or Girl Scout: "a scout leader"
   • 4. a domestic worker at a college at Oxford University.
   • 5. a man or boy: informal, dated "I've got nothing against Harrison—he's a good scout"

   verb

   • 1. make a search for someone or something in various places: "I was sent to scout around for a place to park the camper" Similar searchlookhuntcast aroundferret (around)root around
   • ▪ (especially of a soldier) go ahead of a main force so as to gather information about an enemy's position, strength, or movements: "outriders went scouting for small settlements to loot"
   • ▪ explore or examine (a place or area of business) so as to gather information about it: "American companies are keen to scout out business opportunities" Similar reconnoiterexploretake a look atmake a reconnaissance ofinspectinvestigatespy outsurveymake a survey ofexaminescanstudyobservesee how the land liesfind out the lie of the landinformal:reccemake a recce ofcheck outcasecase the jointtake a shufti roundsuss outrecon
   • ▪ look for suitably talented people for recruitment to one's own organization or sports team: "Johnson has been scouting for the Pirates"

   Word Origin late Middle English (as a verb): from Old French escouter ‘listen’, earlier ascolter, from Latin auscultare. scout1 (sense 5 of the noun) (early 18th century) is of uncertain origin.

   Derivatives

   • 1. scouter noun

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • S

     1

   • C

     3

   • O

     1

   • U

     1

   • T

     1

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