lookoutn.
/ˈlʊkaʊt/, U.S. /ˈlʊkˌaʊt/ 1. Originally Nautical. The action or duty of keeping watch; a period spent doing this. Also: the faculty of vigilance. Frequently in to keep a lookout, on (upon) the lookout: see Phrases 1, Phrases 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > vigilance > [noun]
wareness971
i-warnessa1250
awaitc1374
watch14..
circumspecta1513
vigilancy1537
vigilance1570
advigilancy1577
wait?1578
vigilantnessa1599
lookout1599
watchfulness1611
alert1801
wakefulness1830
outlook1879
monitoring1924
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > seeing or looking > [noun] > observing or watching > looking out or keeping watch
lookout1599
1599 J. Welsh in R. Hakluyt Princ. Navigations (new ed.) II. ii. 126 When the thirde glasse of our Looke-out was spent, we spied vnder our Larbord-quarter one of their Boates.
?c1600 T. Hariot Math. Papers VII. (MS BL Add. 6788) f. 21 The watch from 4 to 8 at night is devided into two partes. The later [sic] parte from 4 to 6 they call the look [? -e] out.
1768 O. Goldsmith Good Natur'd Man ii. 29 I think if any thing was to be foreseen, I have as sharp a look out as another.
1835 W. Irving Tour on Prairies xxxv. 326 At one time, in crossing a hill, Beatte..took a look-out, like a mariner from the mast-head at sea.
1874 F. G. D. Bedford Sailor's Pocket Bk. iii. 45 The very great majority of collisions happen through bad look-out and neglect to show lights.
1992 B. Unsworth Sacred Hunger xx. 161 Wilson, ordered forward on lookout, set his saturnine face to the glimmering horizon and thought of ways of broaching the rum in the storeroom.
2.
a. Originally Nautical. A location or building from which a watch is kept; a position used as a dedicated vantage point.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [noun] > look-out place
garret1340
tooting-towera1382
watch-house1482
watchtower1544
watch-stand1610
beacon1611
mount1612
belfry1631
lookout1662
mirador1672
lookout tower1748
toot1770
watch point1893
observation post1909
lookout station1928
1662 Mr. Gray in Geogr. Jrnl. (1900) 15 633 Several convenient places, which we call Look-outs.
1685 B. Ringrose Bucaniers Amer. iv. xv. 110 We went unto the look-out, or watch-hill, but from thence could learn nothing.
1766 W. Stork Acct. E.-Florida 33 To the back part of the house is joined a tower, called in America a look-out, from which there is an extensive prospect towards the sea.
1791 J. Bentham Panopticon i. 145 A Look-out or Exterior Inspection-Lodge.
1855 H. W. Longfellow Hiawatha xix. 250 Another vulture, watching From his high aerial look-out.
1863 J. Edkins Narr. Visit to Nanking iii, in J. R. Edkins Chinese Scenes & People 271 It is now used as a site for a high look-out by the rebels.
1919 L. H. Smith tr. C. Yver Mirabelle of Pampeluna xi. 75 The commandant has sent me down there to the listening post to build a lookout.
1961 Canada Month Oct. 42/3 However, the forestry people want money to buy greater preparedness through more lookouts, men, planes and equipment.
2009 P. Rock My Abandonment 12 Ferns grow up high in the trees..though not so high as where I am in the lookout.
b. A boat or ship used for reconnoitring, esp. in advance of a fleet.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > look-out or reconnaissance vessel
spy-boat1637
guard-ship1689
station ship1693
scout-ship1694
guard-boat1696
scout1706
lookout1761
lookout ship1762
watch-boat1789
patrol boat1854
spy-ship1858
picket boat1861
picket launch1864
scout vessel1869
vedette boat1884
picket ship1898
coastal1912
P boat1917
spotter1931
radar picket1945
1761 Descr. S. Carolina 36 Eight Look-outs, which are also laid aside.
1841 J. T. J. Hewlett Parish Clerk II. 203 Ere the channel was full enough for the look-outs to intercept her.
1891 P. H. Colomb Naval Warfare viii. 152 The position off Ushant might have been maintained with look-outs to the northward.
1909 L. A. B. tr. W. Semenoff Rasplata ii. viii. 513 At nightfall the look-outs were drawn in and ordered to take up as usual the two indented lines abreast, ahead of the main body.
1996 C. Blair Hitler's U-Boat War 1939–42 v. 289 Robert Gysae's U-98, and Herbert Wohlfarth's U-556..were to serve as ‘lookouts’ for the other boats.
2008 S. Willis Fighting at Sea in Eighteenth Cent. viii. 115 A squadron of its fastest and most weatherly ships to act as lookouts.
3.
a. Originally Nautical. A person stationed to keep watch, esp. for danger or trouble, or (less commonly) sent out to reconnoitre. Also occasionally: a body of such people.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > watcher or look-out
showerOE
tootera1382
waiter1382
night watcha1400
scout-watcha1400
looker-out1562
night-watcher1569
watcher1572
scout1585
bishop1592
speculator1607
lookout1662
speculatory1775
lookout man1787
stagger1859
dog1870
eye1874
the world > action or operation > safety > protection or defence > watching or keeping guard > [noun] > one who watches or keeps guard
warda680
wakemanc1175
wardena1250
watchc1380
watchmana1400
outwatch1488
warderc1540
sentinel1579
perdu1639
sentry1650
lookout1662
security man1662
guardman1756
excubitor1775
cockatoo1827
guardsmana1854
dog1870
1662 Mr. Gray in Geogr. Jrnl. (1900) 15 633 One Lookout maketh signes to another, by hoysing up a basket upon a Pole.
1699 W. A. Cowley Voy. round Globe ii, in W. Hacke Coll. Orig. Voy. i. 11 We took their Look-outs, who told us the News.
1720 D. Defoe Life Capt. Singleton 235 We..kept a Look out upon the Hill.
1799 Edinb. Mag. Feb. 154/2 Lookouts reported to me thirty-one sail of all descriptions, but their exact force by no means certain.
1872 Routledge's Every Boy's Ann. Apr. 266/2 The ‘Cambria’ sailed..with looks-out at her mast-heads.
1881 Daily Tel. 24 Feb. Those aboard are divided into three look-outs, giving each look-out four hours on deck and eight hours below.
1888 Cent. Mag. Feb. 498/2 These lookouts or forerunners having returned, the herds are set in motion as early in the spring as may be.
1933 S. Walker Night Club Era 256 The drugstore loafer, who had dreamed of possibly turning into a holdup man, could get work as a lookout for booze ‘drops’ or speakeasies.
1955 J. S. Gowland Smoke over Sikanaska 16 The look-out had to be an expert woodsman, be able to read meteorological instruments, have an excellent degree of physical fitness and good eyesight.
2003 A. N. LeBlanc Random Family iv. 41 George worked for the Torres brothers, who dominated the South Bronx [heroin] market, becoming a lookout on Watson Avenue.
b. U.S. Gambling (chiefly Faro). A person who oversees the conduct of players and dealers during play. Now chiefly historical.
ΚΠ
1843 J. H. Green Exposure Arts & Miseries Gambling 175 The dealer [in the game of faro] has from one to four assistants, who are called ‘croupiers’, or ‘look-outs’.
1893 Harper's Mag. May 939/2 By each dealer's side sits the ‘lookout’..lazily looking on in the interests of such fair play as is consistent with professional gambling.
1935 A. J. Pollock Underworld Speaks 73/1 Look-out, gambling house employee who observes the bets of players and the pay-off of dealers for regulatory purposes.
2002 United Press Internat. Newswire (Nexis) 10 Dec. It took three casino employees to run the game—a dealer, a ‘casekeeper’..and a ‘lookout’, who watched the bets and ruled on disputes.
4. † c. Something that presents an appealing prospect; an object of desire. Obsolete. rare.
a. A view or prospect. Cf. outlook n. 1b.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > [noun] > view or scenery > general or extensive
prospect1538
respect1542
general1612
lookout1779
panorama1802
synopsis1844
God's-eye view1865
1779 H. Swinburne Trav. Spain xxiii. 184 This leads to a little tower..The look-out charming.
1790 J. Throsby Suppl. Vol. Leics. Views xiv. 182 There appears studied form in laying out the pleasure grounds; but there is some beauty in the look-out towards Stapleford Hall.
1842 F. Trollope Visit to Italy II. xi. 199 A walk through the Villa Reale..seemed..to promise advantageous look-outs without end.
1883 Eng. Illustr. Mag. Nov. 68/2 The traveller feels weary and disgusted with the ugliness of the look-out.
1919 J. A. Chase Chan's Wife xxi. 201 A hammock..with a pleasant afternoon shadiness, and a lovely look out over the river and its old, low-browed houses on the farther side.
1963 Boston Sunday Globe 8 Dec. b17/7 Fine lodge-type accommodations, beautiful lookouts over the valley and canyon, and bridle and hiking trails through the state park forests.
2008 K. Revolinski 60 Hikes within 60 Miles: Madison xxix. 151 The trail continues..out onto a cliff where there's a nice lookout over the lake below.
b. A prospect or prognostication for the future. Cf. outlook n. 2b.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > expectation > [noun] > object of
bidinga1382
expectation1598
outsight1606
prospect1665
view1689
perspective1742
lookout1792
1792 T. Beddoes Hist. Isaac Jenkins 2 What was to become of the poor, now their leasing was all eaten and gone? It was bad already with them and a worse look-out.
1841 C. Dickens Old Curiosity Shop i. xix. 194 ‘He's going at the knees.’ ‘That's a bad look-out.’
1886 Times (Weekly ed.) 6 Aug. 13/3 The look-out for the shooting-season is satisfactory.
1913 M. Durand Life Sir Alfred Comyn Lyall vi. 63 As the detachment of sepoys in charge of the Treasury at Bulandshahr belonged to the same regiment, the look-out was bad.
1955 Chicago Tribune 4 July iii. 2/7 If the Russians win, we'll be for the salt mines, believe me. Nice lookout, isn't it?
2002 J. McGahern That they may face Rising Sun (2003) 35 He only goes to see shows like John Quinn. It'd be a poor lookout if people were to follow him to church.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > will > wish or inclination > desire > [noun] > object of desire
willeOE
desire1340
appetitec1386
flight1530
optative1605
catch1609
desiderate1640
desirable1645
desideratuma1651
eligible1656
appetible1715
lookout1795
desideration1836
ooh-ah1957
1795 Ld. Nelson Let. 22 June in Dispatches & Lett. (1845) I. 45 The loaves and fishes are all the look out.
5. colloquial (now chiefly British). With possessive adjective or genitive. One's own responsibility or concern, which others are not obliged to consider. Chiefly in that's your (his, her, etc.) lookout.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > care, carefulness, or attention > care or carefulness [phrase] > the matter concerns only (someone's) interest
that's your (his, her, etc.) lookout1795
the mind > mental capacity > perception or cognition > faculty of ideation > topic, subject-matter > affair, business, concern > [noun]
thingeOE
charec897
cause1393
gleea1400
affaira1425
articlea1425
conversement1455
concernment1495
subject?1541
gear1545
concerning1604
concern1659
interest1674
lookout1795
show1797
pidgin1807
put-in1853
chip1896
thang1932
1795 Pennsylvania State Trials: F. Hopkinson & J. Nicholson I. 304 If there was no fund it was no guilt imputable to the Comptroller, as it was not his look out, but the Governor's who drew the orders.
1843 C. Dickens Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) xxvii. 331 If he took it into his head that I was coming here for such or such a purpose, why, that's his look-out.
1884 Law Times Rep. 52 51/2 The result would be that a less price would be got, but that is the vendor's look out.
1921 Sat. Evening Post 10 Dec. 43/2 If they want to spend it for idleness and sport, all right. That's their lookout.
1953 B. Goolden China Pig xiii. 195 If I want a common little bit for a best girl that's my look-out, too.
2005 N. Hornby Long Way Down 105 I'm not being interviewed for this job..I don't want it, and if you choose to give it to me, that's your lookout.
Phrases
P1. to keep a lookout. Frequently with modifying word, esp. good or sharp.
a. To keep watch visually (for an object, a person, etc.) esp. at sea.
ΚΠ
1684 P. Ayres Voy. & Adventures Capt. B. Sharp 44 Had they kept a good look out, the Indian could not have effected so great a part of his design.
1737 W. H. Draper Let. in Narr. Capture of Ship Derby (1738) 45 For what Excuse can we frame for our selves, with such a Sea-force as we have on foot, and the Derby too daily expected upon the Coast, that we did not at least Station some part of it, to keep a Look-out for her?
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson iii. vi. 346 We..kept a good look out for the rocks of Vele Rete.
1840 R. H. Dana Two Years before Mast xxxi. 117 We kept a bright lookout—one man at each bow.
1880 Harper's Mag. June 71 The restless starling..keeps a sharp look-out for the enemy.
1912 C. Young Racer Boys xiii. 126 I'll keep a lookout for that man, and if I see or hear anything of him I'll let you know.
1939 S. E. Morison Second Voy. C. Columbus ix. 89 Keeping a sharp look-out for the numerous detached rocks.
2000 W. Ihimaera Uncle's Story (2005) x. 169 They were keeping a look-out for enemy aircraft above and any surface-to-air missiles from below.
b. To be on the alert; to be vigilant. Usually with for (also †after, on, †upon), indicating the object of observation.
ΚΠ
1733 S. Whatley tr. S. Tyssot de Patot Trav. & Adventures James Massey xi. 183 Her Waiting-woman..always kept a Look-out [Fr. ne cessoit de battre la campagne] for some Intelligence that might be to their Advantage.
1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xlv. 315 Indeed, I shall keep a look-out, as you call it, upon myself.
1797 A. M. Bennett Beggar Girl V. iii. 92 A goodish wench in the main, if one keeps a sharp look out after her, else she will sup the monkey.
1820 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. May 197 Keep a look out, and you will see me in the marriage-list.
1883 P. Pember in Harper's Mag. Dec. 110/1 Keep a sharp look out on your baggage.
1942 E. Blunden Romantic Poetry & Fine Arts 17 Mrs. Hemans must have kept a sharp look-out for fine-arts literature.
1960 F. G. Mann & B. C. Saunders Pract. Org. Chem. (ed. 4) iii. 399 In such a case the student should keep a sharp lookout for a positive reaction characteristic of a non-nitrogenous substance.
2006 Inside Edge June 41/2 As we get nearer to post-time, keep a sharp lookout on where the money is flowing.
P2. on (also upon) the lookout: in a state of alertness or vigilance; on the alert, on watch.
ΚΠ
1755 J. Mills tr. J. B. L. Crevier Hist. Rom. Emperors II. v. 141 The public Treasurers, who always are on the look out, claimed her fortune as an escheat.
1760 S. Niles in Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc. (1837) 3rd Ser. VI. 161 They were upon the constant look-out and had two forts not far distant from thence.
1767 A. Brice in Philos. Trans. 1766 (Royal Soc.) 56 67 I wished to put other people upon the look-out.
1771 J. Johnson Let. 4 Dec. in Joshua Johnson's Letterbk. (1979) 21 Molleson has chartered a ship and West & Hobson is on the lookout for one.
1864 F. C. Bowen Treat. Logic i. 26 Anything new or peculiar..puts us upon the lookout to detect a possible absurdity.
1894 J. Knight D. Garrick ii. 21 He had been on the look-out for such information.
1926 Amer. Mercury Mar. 376/1 Modistes who..are on the look-out for new material behind the footlights.
1957 Billboard 26 Jan. 126/3 The plants..are on the lookout to cut costs wherever possible.
2006 A. Steffen et al. Worldchanging (2008) 55/2 Be on the lookout for Java and other products with a clean history.
Compounds
a. attributive, designating a location or building from which a watch is kept, as lookout post, lookout station, lookout tower, etc. Cf. sense 2a.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > thing seen > place where view obtained > [noun] > look-out place
garret1340
tooting-towera1382
watch-house1482
watchtower1544
watch-stand1610
beacon1611
mount1612
belfry1631
lookout1662
mirador1672
lookout tower1748
toot1770
watch point1893
observation post1909
lookout station1928
1685 B. Ringrose Bucaniers Amer. iv. xvi. 131 We espied three horsemen, who mounted the Look-out hill; and seeing us upon our march, they rid down full speed towards the City.
1748 B. Robins & R. Walter Voy. round World by Anson ii. xii. 259 On..some small eminencies there are several look-out towers.
1789 W. Knox Extra Official State Papers II. 17 Oglethorpe had constructed something of a look-out post.
1805 J. Horsburgh Mem. Navigation to & from China 16 On the northwest extremity of Chunpee is a fort..with a small look-out turret over it.
1888 Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. May 663/2 We soon reach our old look-out spot.
1928 Daily Express 29 Aug. 2/5 The British Columbia fire ranger, whose lookout station is on Mount Cartier, 9,000 feet above sea level.
1939 Street & Smith's Western Story Mag. 23 Sept. 91/2 All kinds of secluded beauty spots and lookout points.
2004 R. George Treading Grapes (2005) 67 The tower was a lookout post.
b. attributive, designating a boat or ship used for reconnoitring, as lookout boat, lookout ship, etc. Cf. sense 2b.
ΘΚΠ
society > travel > travel by water > vessel, ship, or boat > war vessel > [noun] > look-out or reconnaissance vessel
spy-boat1637
guard-ship1689
station ship1693
scout-ship1694
guard-boat1696
scout1706
lookout1761
lookout ship1762
watch-boat1789
patrol boat1854
spy-ship1858
picket boat1861
picket launch1864
scout vessel1869
vedette boat1884
picket ship1898
coastal1912
P boat1917
spotter1931
radar picket1945
1762 London Mag. Aug. 455/1 Capt. Holmes, at sea, who was a look-out ship..had left the Havanna the 5th of July.
1782 Gentleman's Mag. Apr. 200/2 That morning the look-out frigate a-head fell-in with and took a large King's cutter, named the Espion, of 16 six pounders.
1854 Naut. Mag. & Naval Chron. June 315 To our great joy, just before sunset the signal was made from the look-out canoe for smoke ahead.
1901 Sci. Amer. 15 June 372/1 The yachts which were..transformed into scouts and lookout vessels.
1968 Jrnl. Hellenic Stud. 88 43 In 480 B.C. the ten ‘best sailers’ of the Persian fleet were sighted by three Greek look-out ships which were out at sea.
2001 Evening Standard (Nexis) 5 Sept. 54 Lookout boats patrolled the nearby lough.
c.
lookout duty n.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > defence > action or duty of sentry or picket > [noun]
sentinel1585
sentry1639
sentinelship1643
picket1713
picket duty1764
lookout duty1831
sentry-go1880
sentry-going1901
sentry duty1917
1831 O. Moore Staff Officer I. vi. 55 They fell in with the wherry then in sight, and which was one of those employed on the ‘look-out duty’.
1918 R. H. Barbour For Freedom of Seas x. 109 At seven bells Nelson was on lookout duty.
2006 D. Ray Singing Hands 213 We took turns on lookout duty.
lookout man n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > sight and vision > one who sees > [noun] > watcher or look-out
showerOE
tootera1382
waiter1382
night watcha1400
scout-watcha1400
looker-out1562
night-watcher1569
watcher1572
scout1585
bishop1592
speculator1607
lookout1662
speculatory1775
lookout man1787
stagger1859
dog1870
eye1874
1787 J. S. Charrier Naval & Mil. Terms 4/3 in Nugent's New Pocket Dict. French & Eng. (ed. 5) Un garde-au-mât, a look-out man.
1830 F. Marryat King's Own II. x. 131 The look-out men at the mastheads.
1939 Motor Boating Sept. 89/1 One of the smartest lookout men in the North Atlantic.
2003 J. Halpern Braving Home (2004) 63 With Butler as the lookout man, no one got into town unnoticed.
Derivatives
ΚΠ
1841 J. F. Cooper Deerslayer iii. 16 But Hutter is a first-rate look-outer, and can pretty much scent danger as a hound scents the deer.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1599- into uncertain
- into winterward
- into world
- into years
- into, within, out of shot
- intoed
- intolerabilities
- intolerability
- intolerable
- intolerableness
- intolerablenesses
- intolerably
- intolerance
- intolerances
- intolerancy
- intolerant
- intolerantly
- intolerantness
- intolerantnesses
- intolerants
- intolerate
- intolerating
- intoleration
- intoll
- intollerous