Wahoo

Part of speech: interjection

Definitions

1. A tropical fish known for its culinary appeal is also an expression of enthusiasm or joy used in moments of celebration, while it can refer to a lively sport that embodies fun and thrill
2. This species of fish popular in warmer oceans is often invoked in exclamations of delight during happy occasions, and it can denote an energetic activity that brings excitement and enjoyment to participants
3. A vigorous fish found in warm waters can signify a shout of joy expressed during celebrations, while also referring to a spirited and exhilarating sport that promotes enjoyment and enthusiasm

Etymology: "Wahoo" as an interjection is a shout of joy, yet its likeliest origin is a word for an elm tree or a sort of arrow. The sound was probably a whoop before it was a word at all, and English later borrowed it from American Indian languages. The source records three rival explanations. One proposes that it comes from an obsolete spelling of Oahu, the Hawaiian island, where a fish of that name is found. Another traces it to Creek "uhawhu", a name for the wahoo elm, a tree whose bark was used for bowstrings and arrows. The third links it to a Dakota word whose first element is related to Lakota "waŋ", meaning arrow. The Dakota link is the most credible, since it ties the shout to a well-known word for an arrow in the Siouan languages of the Plains. The three explanations point in different directions, and no single one settles the matter. What the evidence supports is a borrowed exclamation from Native American speech that came to signal exuberance.

Synonyms: yay, hooray