wahoo

[ wah-hoo, wah-hoo ]

/ wɑˈhu, ˈwɑ hu /

noun, plural wa·hoos.

any of various American shrubs or small trees, as the winged elm, Ulmus alata, or a linden, Tilia heterophylla.

Nearby words

Origin of wahoo

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70; origin uncertain

Definition for wahoo (2 of 4)

wahoo

[ wah-hoo, wah-hoo ]

/ wɑˈhu, ˈwɑ hu /

noun, plural wa·hoos.

a shrub or small tree, Euonymus atropurpurea, of North America, having finely serrated, elliptical leaves and pendulous capsules that in opening reveal the bright-scarlet arils of the seeds.

Origin of wahoo

1855–60, Americanism; < Dakota wanhu, equivalent to wan- arrow + hu wood, shaft

Also called burning bush.

Definition for wahoo (3 of 4)

wahoo

[ wah-hoo, wah-hoo ]

/ wɑˈhu, ˈwɑ hu /

noun, plural wa·hoos, (especially collectively) wa·hoo.

a large, swift mackerel, Acanthocybium solanderi, widespread in warm seas, of a steel blue to greenish blue above and silver below, often leaping from the water and occasionally schooling in great numbers: valued as a food and game fish.

Origin of wahoo

First recorded in 1905–10; origin uncertain

Also called peto.

Definition for wahoo (4 of 4)

wahoo

⁴

[ wah-hoo ]

/ ˈwɑˈhu /

interjection

(an exclamation used to express joy, excitement, etc.)

Origin of wahoo

⁴

1900–05, Americanism; of imitative origin

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

Examples from the Web for wahoo

It is known also as wafer ash, wahoo, and quinine tree; the last name being due to its bitter bark.
American Forest Trees|Henry H. Gibson
For the toll of death in the Wahoo Valley was cruel and inexorable.
In the Heart of a Fool|William Allen White
Purple Finches flock to the wahoo elm trees to feed on the buds, and Crossbills attack the pine cones.
The Bird Study Book|Thomas Gilbert Pearson
The great strike in the Wahoo Valley now is only an episode in the history of this struggle of labor for its rights.
In the Heart of a Fool|William Allen White

The detachment would pass on its march within a short distance of Wahoo Swamp and might easily be surprised and overpowered.
Four American Indians|Edson L. Whitney

British Dictionary definitions for wahoo (1 of 3)

wahoo

/ (wɑːˈhuː, ˈwɑːhuː) /

noun plural -hoos

an elm, Ulmus alata, of SE North America having twigs with winged corky edgesAlso called: winged elm

Word Origin for wahoo

from Creek ǔhawhu cork elm

British Dictionary definitions for wahoo (2 of 3)

wahoo

/ (wɑːˈhuː, ˈwɑːhuː) /

noun plural -hoos

an E North American shrub or small tree, Euonymus atropurpureus, with scarlet capsules and seedsAlso called: burning bush

Word Origin for wahoo

C19: from Dakota wāhu arrowwood

British Dictionary definitions for wahoo (3 of 3)

wahoo

/ (wɑːˈhuː, ˈwɑːhuː) /

noun plural -hoos

a large fast-moving food and game fish, Acanthocybium solandri, of tropical seas: family Scombridae (mackerels and tunnies)

Word Origin for wahoo

of unknown origin

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 wahoo

wahoo

type of large marine fish, 1905, of unknown origin.