what hoint.adj.
A. int. An exclamation used to call the attention of a person, or as an expression of excitement or exultation.
Cf. what int., conj., and n. 3. Now archaic or affected.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > attention > attracting attention > call for attention [interjection]
loOE
lookOE
heya1225
halec1300
notac1392
what hoc1405
yoa1475
behold1535
hist1599
nota benea1721
see1863
psst1875
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > cry or shout (loudness) > cry or shout [interjection] > specific call or hail
heya1225
halec1300
hillaa1400
what hoc1405
hoc1430
oyeza1450
heh1475
hi?c1475
oy1488
whata1556
holla1598
sola1598
hillo1603
hallow1674
woo-hoo1697
hip1735
yo-ho1748
high1760
yo-heave-ho1790
holla ho!1796
whoo-ee1811
hello1826
tit1827
hullo1857
ahoy1885
yoo-hoo1924
hi-de-hi1941
c1405 (c1390) G. Chaucer Miller's Tale (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 251 What how, what do ye maister Nicholay.
1579 E. Spenser Shepheardes Cal. July 5 What ho, thou iollye shepheards swayne, Come vp the hyll to me.
a1593 C. Marlowe Tragicall Hist. Faustus (1616) sig. E2 What ho, Officers, Gentlemen, Hye to the presence to attend the Emperour.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Tempest (1623) i. ii. 315 What hoa: slaue: Caliban. View more context for this quotation
1810 W. Scott Lady of Lake ii. 91 ‘Malise, what ho!’—his hench-man came.
1864 R. M. Ballantyne Lifeboat x ‘What ho! Coleman,’ cried Bax,..‘have you actually acquired the art of sleeping on a donkey?’
1899 H. Wyndham Soldiers of Queen vi. 137 ‘What ho! Did you get your bloomin' ticket this time?’ demands a brother ‘Lancer’.
B. adj. (hyphened)
Superior, smart, stylish; designating the type of person supposed to use the exclamation, esp. the heartier kind of officer and gentleman.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > fashionableness > [adjective] > smart
gallantc1420
galliard1513
fine1526
trickly1580
pink1598
genteel1601
sparkful1605
sparkish1657
jaunty1662
spankinga1666
shanty1685
trig1725
smartish1738
distinguished1748
nobby1788
dashing1801
vaudy1805
swell1810
distingué1813
dashy1822
nutty1823
chic1832
slicked1836
flash1838
rakish1840
spiffy1853
smart1860
sassy1861
classy1870
spiffing1872
toffish1873
tony1877
swish1879
hep1899
toffy1901
hip1904
toppy1905
in1906
floozy1911
swank1913
jazz1917
ritzy1919
smooth1920
snappy1925
snazzy1931
groovy1937
what ho1937
gussy1940
criss1954
high camp1954
sprauncy1957
James Bondish1966
James Bond1967
schmick1972
designer1978
atas1993
as fine as fivepence-
1937 in Amer. Speech (1938) 13 239/1 At the time of their installation the elevators at the Ritz Carlton were considered the What-ho-iest in town.
1973 Times Lit. Suppl. 21 Sept. 1074/3 Those who survive to be relieved by what-ho young soldiers in scarlet tunics and white bandoliers.
1977 Time 22 Aug. 37/1 The Legionnaires are a carefully assorted lot,..a soulful French musician, a what-ho English blueblood, a hulking Russian who once guarded the Czar's family, and so on.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online March 2019).
<
int.adj.c1405