tout

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle), Verb (intransitive), Adverb

CIDE DICTIONARY

tout, v. i. [See 1st Toot.].

•  To act as a tout. See 2d Tout.  [1913 Webster]
•  To ply or seek for customers.  [1913 Webster]

tout, v. i. 

•  To look narrowly; spy.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  To spy out the movements of race horses at their trials, or to get by stealth or other improper means the secrets of the stable, for betting purposes.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

tout, n. 

•  One who secretly watches race horses which are in course of training, to get information about their capabilities, for use in betting.  [1913 Webster]
•  One who gives a tip on a race horses for an expected compensation, esp. in hopes of a share in any winnings; -- usually contemptuous.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  One who solicits custom, as a runner for a hotel, cab, gambling place.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
•  A spy for a smuggler, thief, or the like.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

tout, n. [Prob. fr. F. tout all.].

 In the game of solo, a proposal to win all eight tricks.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

tout, v. i. [See 3d Toot. ].

 To toot a horn.  [1913 Webster]

tout, v. t. 

 To spy out information about, as a racing stable or horse.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

tout, n. 

 The anus.  Chaucer.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

tout, v. & n.
--v.
1 intr. (usu. foll. by for) solicit custom persistently; pester customers (touting for business).
2 tr. solicit the custom of (a person) or for (a thing).
3 intr. a Brit. spy out the movements and condition of racehorses in training. b US offer racing tips for a share of the resulting profit.
--n. a person employed in touting.

Derivative

touter n.

Etymology

ME tute look out = ME (now dial.) toot (OE totian) f. Gmc

THESAURUS

tout

acclaim, adherent, adventurer, adviser, advocate, aggrandize, amplify, announcer, annunciator, applauder, appreciator, authority, back, ballyhoo, ballyhoo man, ballyhooer, barker, betting ring, bettor, boneshaker, boost, booster, buff, build up, burlesque, canvasser, cardshark, cardsharp, cardsharper, caricature, carry too far, channel, claqueur, commend, commender, communicant, communicator, compulsive gambler, crap shooter, cry up, dopester, draw the longbow, encomiast, enlightener, eulogist, eulogizer, exaggerate, expert witness, extoller, fan, gambler, gamester, go to extremes, gossipmonger, grapevine, hawk, hazarder, herald, hype, hyperbolize, informant, information center, information medium, informer, interviewee, laud, lauder, lay it on, magnify, make much of, monitor, mouthpiece, newsmonger, notifier, overcharge, overdo, overdraw, overestimate, overpraise, overreach, overreact, oversell, overspeak, overstate, overstress, panegyrist, peddle, petty gambler, piker, pile it on, pitchman, player, plug, plugger, plunger, praise, praiser, press, proclaim, promote, promoter, public relations officer, publicize, publisher, puff, puffer, punter, push, radio, recommend, reporter, rooter, sell, sharp, sharper, sharpie, solicitor, source, speak highly of, speak warmly of, speak well of, speculator, spieler, spokesman, sport, sporting man, sportsman, stretch, stretch the truth, support, surveillance, talk big, talk in superlatives, television, teller, tinhorn, tipster, touter, travesty, trumpet, venturer, vigil, vigilance, wagerer, watch, watch and ward, witness

ROGET THESAURUS

tout

Request

VB request, ask, beg, crave, sue, pray, petition, solicit, invite, pop the question, make bold to ask, beg leave, beg a boon, apply to, call to, put to, call upon, call for, make a request, address a request, prefer a request, put up a request, make a prayer, address a prayer, prefer a prayer, put up a prayer, make a petition, address a petition, prefer a petition, put up a petition, make application, make a requisition, ask trouble, ask one for, claim, offer up prayers, whistle for, beg hard, entreat, beseech, plead, supplicate, implore, conjure, adjure, obtest, cry to, kneel to, appeal to, invoke, evoke, impetrate, imprecate, ply, press, urge, beset, importune, dun, tax, clamor for, cry aloud, cry for help, fall on one's knees, throw oneself at the feet of, come down on one's marrowbones, beg from door to door, send the hat round, go a begging, mendicate, mump, cadge, beg one's bread, dance attendance on, besiege, knock at the door, bespeak, canvass, tout, make interest, court, seek, bid for, publish the banns.

Petitioner

N petitioner, solicitor, applicant, suppliant, supplicant, suitor, candidate, claimant, postulant, aspirant, competitor, bidder, place hunter, pot hunter, prizer, seeker, beggar, mendicant, moocher, panhandler, freeloader, sponger, mumper, sturdy beggar, cadger, hotel runner, runner, steerer, tout, touter, pauper, homeless person, hobo, bum, tramp, bindle stiff, bo, knight of the road (poverty), hippie, flower child, hard core unemployed, welfare client, welfare case, canvasser, bagman, salesman.