war whoop

American  

noun

1. a yell uttered in making an attack.

   the war whoop of the American Indian.

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war whoop British  

noun

1. the yell or howl uttered, esp by North American Indians, while making an attack

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Etymology

Origin of war whoop

An Americanism dating back to 1705–15

Example Sentences

One muscular kid who’s been pumping up to defend himself lets out an excited war whoop when it’s finally time to fight for his life.

From Los Angeles Times

On a short summer night, listen and you might hear a war whoop skitter out of the darkness along the riverbanks, followed by the scattering yips of coyotes on Mount Sentinel.

From New York Times

Old rifles were brought out from closets and several hundred men gathered excitedly on the main street, hoisting their battered weapons and raising war whoops for the news cameras.

From Washington Post

Mr. White’s brother, Robert, let loose a war whoop as they chewed.

From New York Times

I let out a war whoop like a wild Apache Indian and jumped in the trench with them.”

From Washington Post