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bout - What does it mean?

Definition of 'bout'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) bught, probably from an unrecorded (etyl) variant of . http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bout?s=t See bight, bought.

Noun

(en-noun)
  • A period of something, usually painful or unpleasant
    • a bout of drought .
  • (boxing) A boxing match.
  • (fencing) An assault (a fencing encounter) at which the score is kept.
  • (roller derby) A roller derby match.
  • A fighting competition.
  • * 1883 , (Howard Pyle), (The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood)
    • Then they had bouts of wrestling and of cudgel play, so that every day they gained in skill and strength.
  • (music) A bulge or widening in a musical instrument, such as either of the two characteristic bulges of a guitar.
  • (dated) The going and returning of a plough, or other implement used to mark the ground and create a headland, across a field.
  • * 1809 , A Letter to Sir John Sinclair [...] containing a Statement of the System under which a considerable Farm is profitably managed in Hertfordshire. Given at the request of the Board. By Thomas Greg, Esq.'', published in ''The Farmer's Magazine , page 395:
    • The outside bout' of each land is ploughed two inches deeper, and from thence the water runs into cross furrows, which are dug with a spade [...] I have an instrument of great power, called a scarifier, for this purpose. It is drawn by four horses, and completely prepares the land for the seed at each ' bout .
  • * 1922 , An Ingenious One-Way Agrimotor'', published in ''The Commercial Motor , volume 34, published by Temple Press, page 32:
    • It is in this manner that the ploughs are reversed at the termination of each bout of the field.
  • * 1976 , Claude Culpin, Farm Machinery , page 60:
    • The last two rounds must be ploughed shallower, and on the last bout the strip left should be one furrow width for a two-furrow plough, two for a three-furrow, and so on. [...]

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To contest a bout.

    • Etymology 2

    Written form of a of "about".

    Preposition

    (en-prep)
  • (colloquial) about
    • they're talking bout you!
    Maddy is bout to get beat up!

    References

    English contractions ----

    Similar to 'bout'

    bit, bot, but, bat, beat, bet, boot, boat, beet, butt, batt, bitt, bait, beaut, baht, beot, bahut, bewet, boet, biot, bott, behat, bewit, buat, beyt