Yahoo
/ˈjɑː.huː/noun
An exuberant shout, or a rude, uncouth person.
Did you know?Jonathan Swift coined the Yahoos in *Gulliver’s Travels* (1726) as a species of filthy, savage humanoids, and that literary monster later helped turn “yahoo” into a real insult in English.
Etymological Timeline
1726
English
Yahoo
“A race of brutish, filthy humanoid creatures in Swift’s *Gulliver’s Travels*.”
Late 18th Century
English
yahoo
“A coarse, boorish, uncivilized person.”
19th Century
English
yahoo
“A boisterous cry or shout, especially of excitement or triumph.”
1994
English
Yahoo!
“The name of the internet company, chosen for its sense of exuberance and informality.”
Explore more surprising origins