Gee-Up
/ˈdʒiː ˌʌp/noun
A command urging a horse or other animal to move faster or start moving.
Did you know?The origin of “gee” remains uncertain, while “up” is an ancient Germanic word connected to the Indo-European root meaning “up” or “over.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*upo
“Up, upward, or over; the reconstructed ancestor of the directional element in “up.””
Old English
Old English
ūp
“Upward, aloft, or to a higher position.”
Middle English
Middle English
up
“Upward or into a raised position; the form remained broadly continuous with Old English.”
17th Century
English
gee
“A recorded command addressed to a horse, though its ultimate origin is uncertain.”
18th–19th Century
English
gee up
“A phrase used by riders and drivers to urge a horse or team to move faster or begin moving.”
Modern English
English
gee-up
“A hyphenated form used as an animal-driving command and, figuratively, as an exhortation to increase effort or speed.”