Flout v.

Also 6 floute, 6–7 flowte. [First recorded in 16th c.; possibly special use (preserved in some dialect) of floute, ME. form of FLUTE v. to play on the flute. Cf. a similar development of sense in Du. fluiten to play the flute, to mock, deride.]

  1.  trans. To mock, jeer, insult; to express contempt for, either in word or action. Also to flout (a person) out of (something).

1551.  R. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop. (Arb.), 26. In moste spitefull maner mockynge, lowtinge, and flowtinge them.

1605.  Shaks., Macb., I. ii. 49.

1607.  Heywood, Woman killed w. Kindn., Wks. 1874, II. 116.

1612–5.  Bp. Hall, Contempl., O. T., I. v. Methinks I see those monstrous sons of Lamech coming to Noah, and asking him what he means by that strange work? whether he meant to sail upon the dry land? To whom when he reports God’s purpose and his, they go away laughing at his idleness, and tell one another in sport, that too much holiness hath made him mad: yet cannot they all flout Noah out of his faith; he preaches, and builds, and finishes.

1727.  De Foe, A System of Magic, IV. iv. (1840), 324. So the man was flouted on all hands, and went his way back.

1805.  Scott, Last Minstr., II. 3.

1840.  Dickens, Old C. Shop, xxxii. The genuine and only Jarley exposed to public scorn, jeered by children, and flouted by beadles!

1873.  Dixon, Two Queens, I. II. ii. 80. One town grew jealous of another; jealous as Zoraya of the Christian slave. Granada flouted Loja; Gaudix hated Baza; and Illora envied Malaga.

  † b.  To quote or recite with sarcastic purpose.

1599.  Shaks., Much Ado, I. i. 290. Ere you flout old ends any further, examine your conscience.

  2.  intr. To behave with disdain or contumely, to mock, jeer, scoff; to express contempt either by action or speech. Also dial. to scold. Const. at; whence in indirect passive.

1575.  R. B., Appius & Virginia, B j b.

1641.  ‘Smectymnuus,’ Vind. Answ., ii. 31. It never came into our thoughts to use a light expression, much lesse to flout in so bold a manner as hee accuseth us.

1678.  R. Barclay, An Apology for … Quakers, ii. § 1. 19. Some are apt to flout at it as ridiculous.

1726.  Adv. Capt. R. Boyle, 166. But I have the good Fortune not to be flouted at.

1844.  Browning, Garden Fancies, I. vi.

1876.  Besant & Rice, Gold. Butterfly, I. iv. 79. The women pointed and flouted at her; the older men nodded, wagged their heads, and laughed.

  ¶ 3.  ? erroneous use (or ? another word). To ruffle (a bird’s feathers).

1875.  Mayne Reid, The Flag of Distress, in Chamb. Jrnl., 7 Aug., 500/1. There is now not enough breeze blowing to flout the long feathers in the tail of the Tropic bird, seen soaring aloft.

  Hence Flouted ppl. a.

1855.  Singleton, Æneid, VII. 601.