Word of the Day - 01/05/26
flout
/flaʊt/(v.): treat with contemptuous disregard
Some people flout the rules by parking in handicapped spots without a permit.
(v.): laugh at with contempt and derision
The rebellious teenager would often flout her parents' warnings, much to their dismay.
Word Origin
The word 'flout' originated in the 1540s with the meaning 'to mock, jeer, or scoff.' Its exact etymology is somewhat obscure, but it is widely believed to have developed from the Middle English word 'flouten,' meaning 'to play the flute' (mid-14th century). This semantic shift likely occurred because the act of playing a flute or whistling became associated with making derisive or scornful sounds. This development may have been influenced by similar figurative uses of flute-playing words in other languages, such as Middle Dutch 'fluyten' or Old French 'fleuter,' both of which meant 'to play the flute' and also acquired secondary senses of 'to jeer' or 'to mock.'