Middle English Dictionary Entry
so-hou interj.
Entry Info
| Forms | so-hou interj. Also sohoue, soho, sohou(w)ȝe, sahou, saho, sehoue. |
| Etymology | OF; cp. ME ho interj., hou interj.(1), & sto interj. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A hunting call used to direct the attention of the hounds to the game, usu. hares; also used as a motto [1st quot.]; (b) an exclamation, a cry.
Associated quotations
a
- (1307) in Bain Cal.Docs.Scotland 2 [OD col.]II.539 : [On a seal, a hare in her form, with motto] Sohou, Sohou.
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)104 : If eny hounde fyndeþ of hur..he shal say 'Sohow, illeoqs, cy douce, cy vaillaunt,' and twies 'Sohowe.'
- (c1410) York MGame (Vsp B.12)106 : He shuld blowe, drawyng with his horn, and crie lowde 'Sohow, moun amy, sohow, sto a rere, sohow, sohowe.'
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)154 : 'Sohow' is moche to say as 'sahow [TV(2): Sa ho; F sha ho],' for because þat it is short to say, we say al wey 'sohow.'
- (1440) PParv.(Hrl 221)251 : Howtynge, crye..Sohowe [Win: So ho], the hare ys fownde.
- c1450 Twiti Venery(2) (Yale-BA Porter MS)44/22 : Yf any hound fynd of hur, þer sche is passed out, þen þou schall sey..'Sohouwȝe, a ha ha, sy, vaylaunt, sy, sy, dons, sy!'
- c1450 Twiti Venery(2) (Yale-BA Porter MS)52/22-4 : Thu schalt begyn by 'So houȝe' in every maner chace in fild and in wod for to coupull and vncoupull; But vnto no best þat is quylid þer schall noȝt ben seid 'So howȝe,' but vnto þo þat ben enchased hit schall be seid at þe last by ryȝt at euery word.
- a1475 Mourn.Hare (Brog 2.1)24 : The furst mane þat me doth fynde, Anon he cryit 'so howe! so hoowe! [vr. se howe, se howe].'
- -?-(?a1500) Hunt.Hare (Adv 19.3.1)133 : The yomon rode and cryed 'So hoö' And putte the hare vp with his boo.
b
- c1400(?a1300) KAlex.(LdMisc 622)3708 : Heiȝe men and her amyes For hem maden wel grete cryes, And Tholomew seide, 'So ho, so hö We ben awroke of dogges two.'