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verb

doot

Doot (verb) means a Scots dialect word meaning to doubt or suspect. Example: “I doot it'll rain before the match is over.”

verb
1
A Scots dialect word meaning to doubt or suspect.
"I doot it'll rain before the match is over."
2
To tap or scan a smart card, especially on public transport.
"Don't forget to doot your card when you get off the bus."
noun
1
A short electronic beep, such as the sound a card reader makes.
"The turnstile let out a doot as her card scanned through."

How to use doot

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither an old Scots word for "doubt," or, in transit slang, the beep-and-tap of scanning a travel card.

When to use it

Both senses are informal or dialectal rather than standard written English.

Word forms

dooted past tense, dooted past tense, doots plural, doots plural, doots plural, doots plural, doots singular, doots singular

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Test yourself on “doot” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

I _____ it'll rain before the match is over.

Etymology

The Scots sense is a dialect form of "doubt"; the electronic-beep sense is imitative, mimicking the tone a scanner makes, and later spread through Cantonese-influenced transit slang (from 嘟, dut¹).

Origin: Cantonese

Rhymes for doot

See all rhymes for doot →

Frequently asked questions

What does “doot” mean?

The word “doot” means a Scots dialect word meaning to doubt or suspect. In plain terms, either an old Scots word for "doubt," or, in transit slang, the beep-and-tap of scanning a travel card.

How do you use “doot” in a sentence?

Here is “doot” used in a sentence: “I doot it'll rain before the match is over.”

What part of speech is “doot”?

Depending on how it is used, “doot” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “doot” come from?

The word “doot” comes from Cantonese. The Scots sense is a dialect form of "doubt"; the electronic-beep sense is imitative, mimicking the tone a scanner makes, and later spread through Cantonese-influenced transit slang (from 嘟, dut¹).

How many meanings does “doot” have?

“Doot” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Scots dialect word meaning to doubt or suspect.

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