What does hooter mean?
A hooter has two well-established but quite different uses. In informal British English, it means a person's nose, as in the familiar expression 'keep your hooter.' In other contexts, it refers to a horn, whistle, or similar device that makes a loud, carrying sound, often as a warning or signal; the word can also denote a person who hoots loudly. The nose sense is the most familiar in Britain, while the sound-related senses are broader and can occur in formal, occupational, and regional contexts. Hooter is a practical example of how a single word can preserve both a jocular, colloquial label and a more technical or descriptive meaning.
Informally, a person's nose.
"The cold made my hooter feel numb."
Chiefly informal and associated especially with British English.
A horn, whistle, or other device that produces a loud, resonant hooting sound.
"The factory hooter warned workers that the shift was over."
Often used for a warning, alarm, or signalling device.
A person who hoots or shouts loudly, especially as part of a group.
"The hooters greeted the team as it entered the stadium."
Less common than the other senses and often used of sports supporters or crowds.
The plural is used for multiple people, devices, or sounds.
"The children laughed as the hooters sounded around the harbour."
In British informal English, a person's nose is their hooter, while a hooter can also be a horn that blasts a loud signal.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hooter come from?
The word 'hooter' was formed in English by adding the suffix '-er' to 'hoot,' a word imitating a low, resonant cry or whistle. The sound-related meaning developed naturally from this root, while the informal sense 'nose' arose later through playful or rhyming slang, especially in British English.
How hooter is actually used
The sense meaning 'nose' is informal and strongly associated with British English. The other senses are less common and may be formal, occupational, or regional.