Pl. look-outs, rarely looks out. [f. vbl. phr. look out: see LOOK v. 40.]
1. The action (occas. the faculty or the duty) of looking out. lit. and fig. Chiefly in phrases to keep (rarely to take) a (good, etc.) look-out; to be, place, put on or upon the look out; const. for, to, and to with inf.; orig. Naut.
1748. Anson’s Voy., III. vi. 346. We … kept a good look-out for the rocks of Vele Rete.
c. 1760. S. Niles, in 3 Mass. Hist. Coll. (1837), VI. 161. They were upon the constant look-out and had two forts not far distant from thence.
1766. Brice, in Phil. Trans., LVI. 67. I wished to put other people upon the look-out.
1768. Goldsm., Good-n. Man, II. Wks. (Globe), 622/2. I think if anything was to be foreseen, I have as sharp a look-out as another.
17[?]. Wilkes, Corr. (1805), III. 81. He … keeps a very good look-out to futurity.
1815. Sporting Mag., XLVI. 4. The gamekeeper of Mr. Blundell was upon the look out for poachers.
1849. W. Irving, Crayon Misc., 192. At one time, in crossing a hill, Beatte … took a look-out, like a mariner from the mast-head at sea.
c. 1850. H. Stuart, Seaman’s Catech., 85. You are placed on the look out.
1864. Bowen, Logic, i. 26. Anything new or peculiar … puts us upon the lookout to detect a possible absurdity.
1875. Bedford, Sailor’s Pocket Bk., iii. (ed. 2), 57. The very great majority of collisions happen through bad look-out and neglect to show lights.
1883. Stevenson, Treas. Isl., II. x. We were running down for it with a bright look-out day and night.
1887. Pall Mall Gaz., 3 Aug., 2/2. In these ships the men go from look-out to wheel, from wheel to look-out.
1894. J. Knight, D. Garrick, ii. 21. He had been on the look-out for such information.
2. In various concrete applications.
a. A station or building from which a look-out can be kept. Orig. Naut.
1700. S. Carolina Stat. at Large (1837), II. 161. The Look-out formerly built on Sullivan’s Island … is by a late storm overthrown to the ground.
1766. W. Stork, Acc. E. Florida, 33. To the back part of the house is joined a tower, called in America a look-out, from which there is an extensive prospect towards the sea.
1791. Bentham, Panopt., I. 145. A Look-out or Exterior Inspection-Lodge.
1855. Longf., Hiaw., xix. 5. Another vulture, watching From his high aerial look-out.
1861. J. Edkins, in Chinese Scenes & People (1863), 271. It is now used as a site for a high look-out by the rebels.
1893. F. Adams, New Egypt, 244. A battery of four guns, with a telegraph station and look-out attached.
b. A person employed to keep a look-out; a watchman, scout; a party of men so employed. Also, see quot. 1889.
1699. Cowley, Voy. (1729), 12. We took their look-outs who told us the news.
1720. De Foe, Capt. Singleton, xiv. (1840), 240. We … kept a look-out upon the hill.
1840. R. H. Dana, Bef. Mast, xiv. 35. One man on deck as a look-out.
1872. Routledge’s Ev. Boy’s Ann., April, 266/2. The ‘Cambria’ sailed … with looks-out at her mast-heads.
1881. Daily Tel., 24 Feb., 8/2. Those aboard are divided into three look-outs, giving each look-out four hours on deck and eight hours below.
1889. Farmer, Americanisms, Look-out, an attendant who, at the gaming-table, is supposed to see that matters are conducted fairly.
c. A reconnoitring boat or vessel.
1761. Descr. S. Carolina, 36. Eight Look-outs, which are also laid aside.
1841. J. T. Hewlett, Parish Clerk, II. 203. Ere the channel was full enough for the look-outs to intercept her.
3. A more or less distant view; a prospect.
1779. H. Swinburne, Trav. Spain, xxiii. 184. This leads to a little tower…. The look-out charming.
1842. Mrs. F. Trollope, Visit Italy, II. xi. 199. A walk through the Villa Reale … seemed … to promise advantageous look-outs without end.
1883. Eng. Illustr. Mag., Nov., 68/2. The traveller feels weary and disgusted with the ugliness of the look-out.
b. In immaterial sense: A prospect or prospective condition, an outlook.
c. 1825. Houlston Tracts, II. No. 47. 2. It was bad already with them, and a worse look-out.
1840. Dickens, Old C. Shop, xix. ‘He’s going at the knees.’ ‘That’s a bad look-out.’
1886. Times (weekly ed.), 6 Aug., 13/3. The look-out for the shooting-season is satisfactory.
1889. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Robbery under Arms, xxxv. It seemed a rather blue look-out.
4. † a. An object of desire (obs.). b. With possessive sb. or pron., That is ——’s look-out: i.e., the matter concerns only his interest, which others are not bound to consider if he neglects it.
1795. Nelson, in Nicolas, Disp. (1845), I. 45. The loaves and fishes are all the look out.
1844. Dickens, Mart. Chuz., xxvii. If he took it into his head that I was coming here for such or such a purpose, why, that’s his look-out.
1858. R. S. Surtees, Ask Mamma, xix. 63. That however is more the Earl’s look-out than ours.
1884. Sir F. North, in Law Times Rep., LII. 51. The result would be that a less price would be got, but that is the vendor’s look out.
5. attrib., as look-out-boat, -man, -ship, etc.
1781. T. Jefferson, Corr., Wks. 1859, I. 301. *Look-out boats have been ordered from the seaboard of the eastern shore.
1798. Capt. Moss, in Naval Chron. (1799), I. 248. Our *look-out canoes have watched them.
1860. G. H. K., in Vac. Tour., 123. The deer … save the hinds a great deal of *look-out duty.
1806. A. Duncan, Nelson, 177. The Swedish squadron had been seen by the *look-out frigates.
1835. Court Mag., VI. 64/1. Over these ruins towered a tall *look-out house.
1830. Marryat, King’s Own, xxx. The *look-out men at the mastheads.
1884. Mil. Engineering (ed. 3), I. II. 41. A *‘look-out’ place for noting the effect of the fire … should be constructed.
1834–47. J. S. Macaulay, Field Fortif. (1851), 272. Where to place videttes, *look-out posts, or telegraphs.
1804. Capt. Dance, in Naval Chron., XII. 138. I recalled the *look-out Ships.
1872. Baker, Nile Tribut., xv. 264. I ordered some of my men every day to ascend this *look-out station.
1748. Anson’s Voy., II. xii. 259. On … some small eminences there are several *look-out towers.
1897. R. Baden-Powell in Daily News, 23 April, 6/2. Up on the roof of the hall is a *look-out turret.
