local. Also 5–9 tout. [f. TOOT v.1]
I. 1. An isolated conspicuous hill suitable as a place of observation; a look-out hill; perh. short for TOOT-HILL, q.v. Chiefly south-western.
1387. Trevisa, Higden (Rolls), III. 85. Temples þat were on groues vppon hiȝe totes [Caxton or hilles], to worschippe mawmetes inne. Ibid., V. 163. Þe eorþe aroos in þe manere of a tote [so MSS., α, β, γ, and Caxton; Camb. MS. tufte].
1884. D. Clayfield Ireland, Lett. In the west of England I think ‘fairy toot’ is a tolerably common topographical expression. And there is a curious jagged and pointed hill a few miles from Bristol known as Cleeve toot.
1904. Daily News, 15 June, 5. In the West of England … ‘toot’ signifies hill.
1905. Eng. Dial. Dict., Toot,… a hilly promontory, on which there is a coast-guard watch-station and flag.
Mod. (South Dorset) There’s one of the preventive-men on the tout.
† 2. An elevated structure, or part of one, used as a look-out. Obs.
1770. Gray, Jrnl. in Lakes, 12 Oct. I went up a winding stone staircase…, and at the angle is a single hexagon watchtower rising some feet higher, fitted up in the taste of a modern Toot, with sash-windows in gilt frames, and a stucco cupola.
1785. Grose, Dict. Vulg. Tongue, Tout, a look out house, or eminence.
II. 3. A peep or glance. dial.
1865. E. Waugh, Lanc. Songs (1871), 56. Th’ cat pricks up her ears at th’ sneck, Wi’ mony a leetsome toot.
4. Comb.: † tote-hole, a hole for spying: cf. tooting-hole (TOOTING vbl. sb.1 b).
1561–6. Child-Marriages, 113. Lokid in at a tote hole.
