The activity of gathering information by observation, especially for military purposes. Also refers to the youth movement founded by Robert Baden-Powell focused on outdoor activities and character development.
From Old French escouter meaning 'to listen', related to Latin auscultare 'to listen carefully'. The military sense developed first, with the youth movement adopting the term in 1907 to emphasize exploration and observation skills.
The Scout movement began when Baden-Powell noticed that young soldiers lacked basic outdoor skills, so he created a program that would prepare boys for military service while building character. Today, scouting exists in virtually every country worldwide, making it one of the largest youth movements in history.
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