Ho

Part of speech: interjection, noun

Definitions

1. A derogatory slang term for a woman who sells sexual services ; a loud exclamation used to express surprise, attract attention, or imitate laughter
2. An offensive slang word for a sex worker ; a sharp interjection signaling astonishment, summoning someone, or a deep booming laugh
3. A demeaning informal name for a person who sells sex for money ; an interjection of surprise, a call for attention, or a booming laughing sound

Etymology: Before it named a person, "ho" was a shout meaning "stop" or "halt." Its exact origin is uncertain, but it is usually compared with Old French "ho!", meaning "hold!", and with the Dutch and German interjections of the same form. The sense most people now know is much younger. The noun for a prostitute first appears around 1964. It is generally explained as a clipped form of "whore" in accents that drop the r and have merged the vowels of "dough" and "door," which turns "whore" into something close to "ho." The verb followed around 1972.

Synonyms: hey, hello