Etymograph

English

halloo

Halloo comes from Middle English hallow ‘pursue, urge on’, and goes back to Old French haloer.

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400haloer
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hallow‘pursue, urge on’
  3. Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1599halloo

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Old Frenchc. 842–1400haloer
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hallow‘pursue, urge on’
  3. Englishearliest quotation c. 1596–1599halloo

Earliest quotation: c. 1596–1599, William Shakespeare, The Second Part of Henry the Fourth, […]. Epilogue.: “For voice—I have lost it with hallooing and singing…”

Every English word from Old French haloer

Today it means

intj Used to greet someone, or to catch their attention.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Old French haloer / halloo

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