ahoy
interjection
- traditional maritime greeting
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /əˈhɔɪ/
intj
Etymology: From a- + hoy (a nautical call used in hauling), from Middle English hoy (interjection), a greeting dating back to the fourteenth century. Compare Dutch hoi (“hi!, hello!”).
- Used to hail a ship, a boat or a person, or to attract attention.
“While he was thus occupied, a voice, still more uncouth than the former, bawled aloud, ‘Ho! the house, a-hoy!’”
“I made a speaking trumpet of my hands and commenced to whoop “Ahoy!” and “Hello!” at the top of my lungs. […] The Colonel woke up, and, after asking what in brimstone was the matter, opened his mouth and roared “Hi!” and “Hello!” like the bull of Bashan.”
- Warning of something approaching or impending.
“Lawsuits, ahoy! […] Towns can regulate use of their beaches. But what about the waters offshore?”
“Catalytic converters ahoy – Zeppelin's latest is one of those high-rev 3D driving games that simulates racing tracks from all over the world.”
noun
Etymology: From a- + hoy (a nautical call used in hauling), from Middle English hoy (interjection), a greeting dating back to the fourteenth century. Compare Dutch hoi (“hi!, hello!”).
- An utterance of this interjection.
“There were many ahoys heard from the approaching ship.”
verb
Etymology: From a- + hoy (a nautical call used in hauling), from Middle English hoy (interjection), a greeting dating back to the fourteenth century. Compare Dutch hoi (“hi!, hello!”).
- To hail with a cry of "ahoy".