# galoot?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 7, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339 "2002-04-07T18:05:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/1 "2002-04-07T18:05:45Z")

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After watching some busg bunny cartoons, they call each other galoot(long eared galoot)  
Whats that?

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**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/2 "2002-04-07T18:20:01Z")

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AFAIK it’s just a name to call somebody, means they’re foolish or something. Kinda like calling them a goon, I think.

FTR Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary says

> [@](#):
>
> Main Entry: ga·loot  
> Pronunciation: g&-'lüt  
> Function: noun  
> Etymology: origin unknown  
> Date: 1866  
> slang : FELLOW; especially : one who is strange or foolish

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**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/3 "2002-04-07T18:24:19Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by vanilla \*  
> \*\*After watching some busg bunny cartoons, they call each other galoot(long eared galoot)  
> Whats that? \*\*

Who the heck is busg bunny?😛

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/4 "2002-04-07T18:44:08Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by pkbites \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Who the heck is busg bunny?😛 \*\*

You know, that rabbit who hangs out with Daffy Dukc.

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**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/5 "2002-04-07T19:30:00Z")

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Are we sure he’s not saying [balut](http://www.filipino.com.au/categ/cuisine/balot.htm) ?

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/6 "2002-04-07T20:18:38Z")

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> **[Penguin Random House](https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com?date=20000217)**
>
> Committed to publishing great books, connecting readers and authors globally, and spreading the love of reading.

The Maven’s site, actually Random House, will contribute more to your understanding of the origin. Originally nautical. etc.

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/7 "2002-04-07T22:58:26Z")

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From a story about Judge Roy Bean who held court in the bar of his property:

“Hear ye! Hear ye! This honorable court’s now in session; and if any galoot wants a snort afore we start, let him step up to the bar and name his pizen. Oscar, serve the gentlemen.” Thus did Judge Bean open court to try one Carlos Robles, an opening typical of his original procedure.

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**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2002, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/galoot/102339/8 "2002-04-07T23:03:27Z")

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Haven’t you ever heard someone referred to as, “Ya big galoot!”

It’s like calling someone an oaf, I thought. Someone sort of large, clumsy, stupid yet not unkind or nasty, just a big hearted doofus. Homer Simpson would probably be a good example of a “galoot.”