Ho
/hoʊ/noun
A shouted call used to attract attention or express surprise, or a colloquial term for a sex worker or promiscuous woman.
Did you know?As an interjection, ho is an old attention-getting cry in English, while the slang use as an insult is a later, separate development with no magical ancient root.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*hō
“an exclamation used to call out or attract attention”
Old English
OE
hō
“a cry or call”
Middle English
ME
ho
“an exclamation used to stop, call, or express surprise”
16th Century
English
ho
“a call or shout, especially to attract attention”
20th Century
English
ho
“slang insult for a promiscuous woman or sex worker”