Obs. [a. OF. escoute fem. (mod.F. écoute) act of listening, also sentinel, SCOUT, f. escouter (mod. écouter) to listen.]
1. Look-out, watch. [Cf. OF. se mettre aux escoutes.]
a. 1627. Hayward, Edw. VI. (1630), 29. They were well entrenched hauing good escout abroad and sure watch within.
2. A SCOUT, spy.
1560. Daus, trans. Sleidane’s Comm., 265. The escoutes that were sent out to knowe whiche waye the Emperour went, brought contrary reportes.
1600. Holland, Livy, XXII. xxviii. 449. Intelligence given him … by meanes of his owne escouts and spies. Ibid. (1603), Plutarch’s Mor., 1329. Those be the Dæmons which are their [the gods’] espies and escouts.
