hoot

Meanings

Noun

• A derisive cry or shout.
• The cry of an owl.
• A fun event or person. (See hootenanny)
• A small particle; a whit or jot.

Verb

• To cry out or shout in contempt.
• To make the cry of an owl, a hoo.
• To assail with contemptuous cries or shouts; to follow with derisive shouts.
• To sound the horn of a vehicle

Origin

• From Middle English houten, huten, hoten, of North Germanic origin, from or related to Old Swedish huta ("to cast out in contempt"), related to Middle High German hiuzen, hūzen, Swedish hut ("begone!"), Dutch hui ("ho, hallo"), Danish huj ("ho, hallo").