1. Originally in Law, of a case, issue, etc.: proposed for discussion at a moot (moot n.1 4). Later also gen.: open to argument, debatable; uncertain, doubtful; unable to be firmly resolved. Freq. in moot case, moot point.
1563 L. Humphrey
Nobles or of Nobilitye sig. Vviv, That they be not forced to sue the lawe, wrapped with so infinite crickes and moot poyntes.
1577 R. Stanyhurst
Treat. Descr. Irelande ii. f. 9/2, in R. Holinshed
Chron. I, The like question [
sc. whether ‘fish’ or ‘flesh’] may be mooued of the sell [= seal], and if it were well canuassed, it would be found at the least wyse a moote case.
a1650 S. D'Ewes
Autobiogr. & Corr. (1845) I. 240, I was scarce come into commons, but‥I was set at work, arguing a moot-point or law-case on Thursday night after supper.
1658–9 in T. Burton
Diary (1828) III. 46 Jersey is part of France; so it is a moot point whether a
habeas corpus lies.
1732–3 Sir C. Wogan in Swift
Wks. (1824) XVII. 460 ‘My lords and gentlemen’, says he, ‘it is a very moot point to which of those causes we may ascribe the universal dulness of the Irish.’
1797
Encycl. Brit. XII. 271/2 Particular times are appointed for the arguing moot-cases.
1876 A. D. Murray
Charnwood 110 It remains a moot problem to be guessed at.
1899
Arch. Surg. 10 190 Those who are already well informed in essentials and quite prepared to discuss moot and difficult points.
1932 P. G. Wodehouse
Louder & Funnier 77 An age full‥of Moot Questions—some mooter than others.
1956 G. Durrell
Drunken Forest x. 199 Whether he could have bitten us successfully‥was rather a moot point, but it was not the sort of experiment I cared to make.
1990
Economist (BNC) 24 Mar. 125 Midland seems likely to be heading for the altar before long. Whether the Hongkong Bank will be the one waiting is a mooter question.