flout´er — flout «flowt», verb, noun. –v.t. to treat with contempt or scorn; mock; scoff at: »The foolish boy flouted his mother s advice. SYNONYM(S): taunt. –v.i. to show contempt or scorn; mock; scoff: »Ah, you may flout and turn up your faces (Robert… … Useful english dictionary
flout — [flaut] v [T] [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: Probably from flout to play the flute (14 16 centuries)] to deliberately disobey a law, rule etc, without trying to hide what you are doing ▪ Some companies flout the rules and employ children as young as… … Dictionary of contemporary English
Flout — Flout, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Flouted}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Flouting}.] [OD. fluyten to play the flute, to jeer, D. fluiten, fr. fluit, fr. French. See {Flute}.] To mock or insult; to treat with contempt. [1913 Webster] Phillida flouts me. Walton.… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Flout — Flout, v. i. To practice mocking; to behave with contempt; to sneer; to fleer; often with at. [1913 Webster] Fleer and gibe, and laugh and flout. Swift. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
Flout — Flout, n. A mock; an insult. [1913 Webster] Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn. Tennyson. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
flout — flout·er; flout·ing·ly; flout; … English syllables
flout — [ flaut ] verb transitive to deliberately refuse to obey a rule or custom: Skateboarders know they will be prosecuted if they flout the law … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
flout — ► VERB 1) openly disregard (a rule, law, or convention). 2) archaic mock; scoff. USAGE On the confusion of flout and flaunt, see the note at FLAUNT(Cf. ↑flaunt). ORIGIN perhaps from Dutch fluiten whistle, play the flut … English terms dictionary
flout — [flout] vt. [prob. special use of ME flouten, to play the flute, hence, whistle (at)] 1. to mock or scoff at; show scorn or contempt for 2. to openly disregard, as by rejecting, defying, or ignoring vi. to be scornful; show contempt; jeer; scoff… … English World dictionary
flout — 1550s, perhaps a special use of M.E. flowten to play the flute (Cf. M.Du. fluyten to play the flute, also to jeer ). Related: Flouted; flouting … Etymology dictionary
