. Orig., a member of the “Boy Scouts, ” an organization of boys founded in 1908, by Sir R. S. S. Baden-Powell, to promote good citizenship by creating in them a spirit of civic duty and of usefulness to others, by stimulating their interest in wholesome mental, moral, industrial, and physical activities, etc. Hence, a member of any of the other similar organizations, which are now worldwide. In “The Boy Scouts of America” the local councils are generally under a scout commissioner, under whose supervision are scout masters, each in charge of a troop of two or more patrols of eight scouts each, who are of three classes, tenderfoot, second-class scout, and first-class scout. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. See Scout. [ Obs. ] Hayward. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To overpower by disdain; to outface. [ Obs. ] Marston. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Icel. skūta a small craft or cutter. ] A swift sailing boat. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

So we took a scout, very much pleased with the manner and conversation of the passengers. Pepys. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Icel. skūta to jut out. Cf. Scout to reject. ] A projecting rock. [ Prov. Eng. ] Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ Icel. skūta a taunt; cf. Icel. skūta to jut out, skota to shove, skjōta to shoot, to shove. See Shoot. ] To reject with contempt, as something absurd; to treat with ridicule; to flout; as, to scout an idea or an apology. “Flout 'em and scout 'em.” Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. escoute scout, spy, fr. escouter, escolter, to listen, to hear, F. écouter, fr. L. auscultare, to hear with attention, to listen to. See Auscultation. ] 1. A person sent out to gain and bring in tidings; especially, one employed in war to gain information of the movements and condition of an enemy. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scouts each coast light-armèd scour,
Each quarter, to descry the distant foe. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A college student's or undergraduate's servant; -- so called in Oxford, England; at Cambridge called a gyp; and at Dublin, a skip. [ Cant ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Cricket) A fielder in a game for practice. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. The act of scouting or reconnoitering. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

While the rat is on the scout. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. A boy scout or girl scout (which see, above). [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

Syn. -- Scout, Spy. -- In a military sense a scout is a soldier who does duty in his proper uniform, however hazardous his adventure. A spy is one who in disguise penetrates the enemies' lines, or lurks near them, to obtain information. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Scouted; p. pr. & vb. n. Scouting. ] 1. To observe, watch, or look for, as a scout; to follow for the purpose of observation, as a scout. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take more men,
And scout him round. Beau. & Fl. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To pass over or through, as a scout; to reconnoiter; as, to scout a country. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To go on the business of scouting, or watching the motions of an enemy; to act as a scout. [ 1913 Webster ]

With obscure wing
Scout far and wide into the realm of night. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Trackschuyt. [ 1913 Webster ]