1640s, "spying, reconnoitering," verbal noun from scout (v.1). In the sense of "the values or activities of Boy Scouts or the Boy Scout movement," from 1908.
Entries linking to scouting
scout v.1
late 14c., scouten, "observe or explore as a scout, travel in search of information," from Middle English scout-watch "sentinel, guard" (compare scout (n.)) or else Old French escouter "to listen, to heed" (Modern French écouter), from Latin auscultare "to listen to, give heed to" (see auscultate). Related: Scouted; scouting.