wahoo

¹

[wah-hoo, wah-hoo]

noun

plural

wahoos 

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

wahoo

²

[wah-hoo, wah-hoo]

noun

plural

wahoos 

1. 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.

wahoo

³

[wah-hoo, wah-hoo]

noun

plural

wahoos ,

plural

wahoo .

1. 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.

wahoo

⁴

[wah-hoo]

interjection

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

wahoo

¹

/ wɑːˈhuː, ˈwɑːhuː /

noun

1. Also called: winged elm. an elm, Ulmus alata, of SE North America having twigs with winged corky edges

wahoo

²

/ ˈwɑːhuː, wɑːˈhuː /

noun

1. Also called: burning bush. an E North American shrub or small tree, Euonymus atropurpureus, with scarlet capsules and seeds

wahoo

³

/ ˈwɑːhuː, wɑːˈhuː /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of wahoo¹

An Americanism dating back to 1760–70; possibly from Creek vhahwv “walnut”

Origin of wahoo²

An Americanism dating back to 1855–60; from Dakota wanhu, equivalent to wan- “arrow” + hu “wood, shaft”

Origin of wahoo³

First recorded in 1905–10; origin uncertain; perhaps from Wahoo, an obsolete spelling for Oahu (Hawaii)

Origin of wahoo⁴

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; of imitative origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of wahoo¹

from Creek ǔhawhu cork elm

Origin of wahoo²

C19: from Dakota wāhu arrowwood

Origin of wahoo³

of unknown origin

Example Sentences

On the Hawaii trip, she texted that “two little wahoo swim by the oars and play in the swirls.”

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Held in Ocean City, the tournament runs for five days with different fishing categories such as white marlin, blue marlin, tuna, wahoo, shark, swordfish and dolphin.

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Fishermen go door-to-door selling tuna and wahoo to islanders, while farmers drive through neighborhoods yelling out “Tomatoes! Lemons! Greens!” on a megaphone.

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The daily catch rotates, but often includes Aruban wahoo and tuna and Venezuelan shrimp.

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For a delicious wahoo fish dinner and a fun bar scene in Kralendijk, try It Rains Fishes Bar & Restaurant.

Read more on New York Times