Tout
/taʊt/noun
A person who solicits business, votes, or patronage in a pushy or intrusive way; also, to solicit in this way.
Did you know?English **tout** likely came through Scots/English from a Germanic root meaning “to peep” or “spy,” which is why it still carries that sneaky, watchful energy.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*tūtōną
“to peep, spy, look out”
Old English
OE
tēotan
“to watch or peer out”
Middle English
ME
touten
“to spy on, watch closely”
16th Century
English
tout
“to solicit business or patronage, especially in a pushy way”
Modern English
English
tout
“to solicit persistently or act as a promoter or informer”