Ahoy
/əˈhɔɪ/noun
A nautical greeting or call used to attract attention.
Did you know?The term 'ahoy' may trace back to the Old English 'hā', meaning 'to call', hinting at its deep-rooted connection to communication across the waves.
Etymological Timeline
Middle English
English
ahoy
“A greeting used at sea, possibly derived from 'hā', an Old English call.”
Old English
Old English
hā
“A term used to call attention or greet.”
15th Century
Middle Dutch
hoy
“A term for a small ship, which is where the greeting may have originated.”
Early Modern English
English
ahoy
“Used as a call to attract attention, especially in maritime contexts.”