ahoy

[uh-hoi]

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interjection Nautical.

(used as a call to hail another ship, attract attention, etc.)

Origin of ahoy

1745–55; variant of hoy². Cf. aha, ahem

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for ahoy

signal, cry, calling, alarm, hail, yawp, whoop, shout, command, holler, yell, scream

Examples from the Web for ahoy

Historical Examples of ahoy

"Ahoy there, aboard the freighter," sounded a stern, determined voice.
The Space Rover
Edwin K. Sloat
In answer to the summons of the boatswain, "All hands, attend lecture, ahoy!"
Down the Rhine
Oliver Optic
The second mate then went forwards, shouting, “All hands, ahoy!”
The White Squall
John Conroy Hutcheson
“Shipmate, ahoy,” he exclaimed in a suppressed tone as he passed.
Manco, the Peruvian Chief
W.H.G. Kingston
As Bigley was about to give the word to let go once more there came a loud “Ahoy!”
Devon Boys
George Manville Fenn

British Dictionary definitions for ahoy

ahoy

interjection

nautical a hail used to call a ship or to attract attention

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for ahoy

1751, from a + hoy, a nautical call used in hauling. The original form of the greeting seems to have been ho, the ship ahoy!