Lookout

Lookout

A lookout or look-out is a person on a ship in charge of the observation of the sea for hazards, other ships, land, etc. Lookouts report anything they see and or hear. When reporting contacts, lookouts give information such as, bearing of the object, which way the object is headed, target angles and position angles and what the contact is. Lookouts should be throughly familiar with the various types of distress signals they may encounter at sea.

Naval application

Lookouts have been traditionally placed in high on masts, in crow's nests and tops.

The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (1972) says in part:: Every vessel must at all times keep a proper look-out by sight (day shape or lights by eyes or visual aids), hearing (sound signal or Marine VHF radio) and all available means (e.g. Radar, ARPA, AIS, GMDSS...) in order to judge if risk of collision exists.

Criminal definition

By analogy, the term "lookout" is also used to describe a person who accompanies criminals during the commission of a crime, and warns them of the impending approach of hazards: that is, police or eyewitnesses. Although lookouts typically do not actually participate in the crime, they can nonetheless be charged with aiding and abetting or with conspiracy, or as accomplices.


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  • lookout — ► NOUN 1) a place from which to keep watch or view landscape. 2) a person stationed to keep watch. 3) informal, chiefly Brit. a good or bad prospect or outcome. 4) (one s lookout) Brit. informal one s own concern. ● be on the lookout (or keep a… …   English terms dictionary

  • Lookout — Look out , n. 1. A careful looking or watching for any object or event. [1913 Webster] 2. The place from which such observation is made. [1913 Webster] 3. A person engaged in watching; a sentinel; a sentry. [1913 Webster] 4. Object or duty of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lookout — index caretaker (one caring for property), spy, surveillance Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 lookout …   Law dictionary

  • lookout — [look′out΄] n. 1. an alert, careful watching for someone or something 2. a place for keeping watch, esp. a high place affording an extensive view 3. a person detailed to watch; sentry 4. Chiefly Brit. outlook, esp. for the future 5. Informal… …   English World dictionary

  • Lookout — (spr. Luckaut), mehre Vorgebirge in verschiedenen nord u. südamerikanischen Staaten …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • lookout — also look out, person who stands watch or acts as a scout, 1690s, from LOOK (Cf. look) + OUT (Cf. out). Verbal phrase look out be on the watch attested from c.1600 …   Etymology dictionary

  • lookout — [n] guard; place from which to guard anchor, beacon, belvedere, case, catbird seat*, citadel, crow’s nest*, cupola, eagle eye*, hawk, observance, observation, observatory, outlook, overlook, panorama, patrol, post, scene, scout, sentinel, sentry …   New thesaurus

  • lookout — noun 1 be on the lookout for to watch a place or situation continuously in order to find something you want or to be ready for problems or opportunities: Police were on the lookout for anyone behaving suspiciously. | We re always on the lookout… …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • lookout — look|out [ˈluk aut] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1 be on the lookout for somebody/something 2 keep a lookout 3¦(person)¦ 4¦(place)¦ ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1.) be on the lookout for sb/sth to continuously watch a place or pay attention in order to find something you want or to be… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • lookout — [[t]l ʊkaʊt[/t]] lookouts 1) N COUNT A lookout is a place from which you can see clearly in all directions. Troops tried to set up a lookout post inside a refugee camp. 2) N COUNT A lookout is someone who is watching for danger in order to warn… …   English dictionary

  • lookout — noun 1) he saw the smoke from the lookout Syn: observation post, lookout point, lookout station, lookout tower, watchtower 2) a scenic lookout Syn: view, vista, prospect, panorama, scene, aspect …   Thesaurus of popular words

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