shout

• IPA^(key): /ʃaʊt/
• (Canada) IPA^(key): /ʃʌʊt/

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• Audio (AU)

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• Rhymes: -aʊt

From Middle English shouten. Further origin uncertain. Possibly related to Middle English shooten (“to shoot (out)”) or from or akin to Old Norse skúta (“to chide, scold”), Old Norse skúti, skúta (“a taunt”). See also the second, rare sense of the verb scout (“to reject with contempt”).

shout (plural shouts)

1. A loud burst of voice or voices; a violent and sudden outcry, especially that of a multitude expressing joy, triumph, exultation, or animated courage.
2. (Britain, Australia, New Zealand, slang) A round of drinks in a pub; the turn to pay the shot or scot; an act of paying for a round of drinks.
   • 1984, Keri Hulme, The Bone People, page 290,

     “I′ll get my wine though,” taking out her wallet.

     “No. This is my shout,” holding up his hand as though to ward her money off.

   • 2006, Lily Allen, Knock 'Em Out

     Cut to the pub on a lads night out,

     Man at the bar cos it was his shout

   • 2008, George Papaellinas, The Trip: An Odyssey, re.press, Australia, page 6,

     It was always my shout down the pub with Theo.

3. (Britain, Australia, slang) A call-out for an emergency services team.
4. (informal) A greeting, name-check or other mention, for example on a radio or TV programme. (also shout out)

   Next up the new single from Beyoncé, but first a shout to Barry Bloggins and his wife Belinda ...

shout (third-person singular simple present shouts, present participle shouting, simple past and past participle shouted)

1. (intransitive) To utter a sudden and loud cry, as in joy, triumph, or exultation, or to attract attention, to animate others, etc.
   • c. 1599, William Shakespeare, Julius Cæsar, Act I, Scene II, 1797, George Steevens (editor), The Plays of William Shakespeare, Volume 7, page 15,

     They shouted thrice; what was the last cry for?

2. (transitive) To utter with a shout; to cry; to shout out

   They shouted his name to get his attention.

3. (colloquial) To pay for food, drink or entertainment for others.

   I′ll shout you all a drink.

   He′s shouting us all to the opening night of the play.

   • 1999, Peter Moore, The Wrong Way Home: London to Sydney the Hard Way, page 301,

     After shouting me a plate of noodles and limp vegetables, he helped me change money by introducing me to the stallholder who offered the best exchange rates.

   • 2003, Peter Watt, To Chase the Storm, Pan MacMillan Australia, unnumbered page,

     ‘I have not seen my cousin Patrick in years,’ Martin answered defensively. ‘I doubt that, considering the way our lives have gone, an officer of the King′s army would be shouting me a drink in Mr O′Riley′s pub these days. […] ’

   • 2005, George G. Spearing, Dances with Marmots: A Pacific Crest Trail Adventure, page 32,

     Anyhow, he obviously bore no grudge against Kiwis, for he shouted me a beer and opened another one for himself, punctuating the operation with a spectacular and resounding fart that by all the laws of physical science should have left his trousers flapping in smouldering shreds.

   • 2010, Ivan Dunn, The Legend of Beau Baxter, HarperCollins Publishers, New Zealand, unnumbered page,

     Truth is, I notice the other blokes who have been shouting me nodding among themselves and thinking they′d better get in the queue if I am buying. Not likely. I am out of there.

4. (Internet) To post a text message (for example, email) in upper case.

   Please don't shout in the chat room.

5. (transitive, obsolete) To treat with shouts or clamor.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Bishop Hall to this entry?)

• See also Thesaurus:shout

• shoutbox
• shout down
• shout from the rooftops
• shouting match
• shout out

• yell
• scream

shout (plural shouts)

1. (Britain, dialectal) A light flat-bottomed boat used in duck-shooting.

• Houts, Huots, South, south, thous