▪ I. hooting, vbl. n.
(ˈhuːtɪŋ)
[f. hoot v. + -ing1.]
The action of the verb hoot in various senses. a. Shouting, calling out, clamour; spec. calling out in execration or derision.
| a 1225 Juliana 52 Ne make þu me nawt men to huting ant to hokere. Ibid., Ant heo leac him efter hire endelong þe cheping chepmenne huting [MS. B. þe cheping chapmen to huting]. a 1330 Syr Degarre 577 Than was ther long houting and cri. 1480 Caxton Chron. Eng. ccxliv. (1482) 298 The frensshmen made..moche reuel with houting and showtyng. 1583 Stanyhurst æneis ii. (Arb.) 68, I stoutly..raysed an howting. 1588 Shakes. L.L.L. iv. ii. 61 (1623) The people fall a hooting. a 1611 Beaum. & Fl. Philaster ii. iv, Your whootings and your clamours..Can no more vex my soul, than this base carriage. 1756 Foote Eng. fr. Paris i. Wks. 1799 I. 102 The hideous hootings of that canaille. 1844 Thirlwall Greece VIII. lxvi. 447 They were obliged to retire amidst the jeers and hootings of the multitude. |
b. The cry or call of an owl.
| 1837 W. Irving Capt. Bonneville III. 143 The hooting of large owls, and the screeching of the small ones. 1856 [see hooter1 a]. |
▪ II. hooting, ppl. a.
(ˈhuːtɪŋ)
[f. as prec. + -ing2.]
That hoots; spec. of certain species of owls.
| 1697 Dryden Virg. Past. viii. 75 [Let] hooting Owls contend with Swans in Skill. 1702 Rowe Tamerl. iii. ii, Like an idle Madman That wanders with a Train of hooting boys. 1819 Crabbe T. of Hall xiv. 398 The night-wolf answer'd to the whooting owl. 1821 Clare Vill. Minstr. II. 71 Cracking whips, and shepherd's hooting cries. |