Phrase guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
adj
Loudly exciting or impressive; boisterous, riotous.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, informal
Qualifier: traditionally associated with the Wild West
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: hootin' tootin'
Antonyms: none provided
adj
Overly inquisitive about other's affairs; interfering, nosy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, rare
Qualifier: Lancashire
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: meddlesome, prying
Antonyms: none provided
History
Possibly from rooty-toot (“something loudly exciting, boisterous, or riotous”, noun) (chiefly US, slang), from rooty-toot (“to make a tooting sound; to act in a jaunty or lively manner”, verb), ultimately imitative of a trumpet’s sound, perhaps also influenced by toot (“to go on a drinking binge or spree”) (US, slang), or tootin', tooting (intensifying adjective) (US, slang).
Probably from rooting (“of a pig: that digs or turns up with its snout; that rummages or searches”, adjective), reduplicated with a change of the initial consonant; compare also toot (“to see; to spy”).
