Middle English Dictionary Entry
hō interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | hō interj. Also họ̄, who. |
| Etymology | OF ho & ON (cp. OI hō). |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Stop, hold; nou ~, ~ ther; (b) crien (seien) ~, to cease; put a stop to an action.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.1706 : This duc..at a stert..was bitwix hem two And pulled out a swerd and cried, 'ho, Na moore vp peyne of lesyng of youre heed.'
- (c1385) Chaucer CT.Kn.(Manly-Rickert)A.2656 : He cryde, 'hoo, namoore, for it is doon.'
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)4.1682 : But nou ho ther, I seie nomore.
- c1400(?c1390) Gawain (Nero A.10)2330 : Bot on stroke here me fallez, Þe couenaunt schop ryȝt so, [Fettled] in Arþurez hallez, & þer-fore, hende, now hoo!
- a1425(c1385) Chaucer TC (Benson-Robinson)3.190 : But ho! namore as now of this matere.
- a1425-a1500(?c1350) Libeaus (Kaluza)2040 : Þy strokes beþ full ille, Gentill kniȝt, now ho [rime: slo, fro, þo]! And I wille ȝelde me.
- a1450(1412) Hoccl.RP (Hrl 4866)4960 : Freshnesse & lust may naght endure al-wey; Whan age is comen, he commaundeth, 'ho!'
- c1450(c1400) Sultan Bab.(Gar 140)1353 : Hoo, Olyuere, I yelde me to the, And here I become thy man.
- c1450 Ihesus þat sprong (Lamb 853)71 : Lord, þou makist freend of foo..But se my sorowe, & seie now 'ho.'
- (1467) Doc.in Bentley Excerpta Hist.()211 : Then the Kyng..cast his staff and, with high voice, cried, 'Whoo!'
- a1475 Gawain & CC (Brog 2.1)467 : Then seyd þe carle, 'Whoo ther! That game I þe forbede.'
b
- (1381) Let.Ball in Robbins Hist.Poems (Roy 13.E.9)5 : Be war or þe be wo; knoweþ ȝour freend fro ȝour foo; haueth y-now & seith, 'hoo.'
- c1390 Maidstone PPs.(Vrn)127 : Whon we sese and con sei ho [rime: do], Þi Merci is vr wasschyng-welle.
- (a1393) Gower CA (Frf 3)5.2219 : Of golde he scholde such plente Receive, til he seide Ho [rime: tho].
- a1450(1400) Eche man be war (Dgb 102)109 : Er he fele het, y rede say hoo [rime: foo, woo, two].
- a1450(?1418) The herrere degre (Dgb 102)54 : Asese of Couetys, and say hoo.
- c1450 Lond.Chron.Cleo.(Cleo C.4)148 : And or they had don with pollax, the kyng cryed hoo.
- ?c1450 Brut-1447 (Trin-C O.9.1)482/32 : Then the Kyng cryed hoo, and so they were departed.
- (a1470) Malory Wks.(Win-C)36/31 : Hit ys tyme to sey who, for God ys wroth with the for thou woll never have done.
2.
(a) Hunt. An element in hunting cries borrowed from the French; (b) hawk. the cry warning the falcon when to swoop when the game is being roused from the cover.
Associated quotations
a
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)94 : After þat the lymere sewe boldely and lustely þe lynmer shal say to hym loude, 'Ho moy, ho moy, hole, hole, hole.'
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)103 : Whan þe door is oppenede he shalle say loude, 'Ho ho arere,' for cause þt his houndis wold come out to hastely.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)105 : Þan shalle he blowe þe stint and say lowd, 'ho ho ore swef, a la douce al ny aluy, sohowe assamy, assamy, la arere sohowe.'
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)108 : Þan shuld þe eirere..seke forþ saying loude and longely, 'ho sto, ho sto, moun amy, ho Sto.'
- (c1450) Now is the Fox drevin (CotR 2.23)1 : Now is the Fox drevin to hole; hoo to hym, hoo! hoo! For and he crepe out, he wille yow alle undo.
b
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)223 : With hoo and howghe to the heron, þay hitten hym full ofte.
3.
An exclamation expressing astonishment, distress, indignation, delight, etc.
Associated quotations
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)12129 : 'Ho [Göt: O ho]!' all þan cun þai cri, 'Qua herd euer sua gret ferli Of ani man?'
- (1467) Paston (Gairdner)4.265 : It was wet within an owyr aftyr that it cam hom, and is nye redy to mak of good malt all, ho ho!
- a1500(a1400) Ipom.(1) (Chet 8009)7369 : A, looffe, I praye the, hoo [rime: woo, soo, goo]!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)30/229 : Out apon the, ho!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)103/103 : A, good sir, ho! Who am I? I wyll pasture my fe where so euer lykys me.