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

See Examples For:

war whoop

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 ● Oct. 4, 2023

Gone too was Michael Phelps’ silver medal snarl, replaced by a post-relay war whoop.

From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2012

Through the darkness the war whoop was heard fiercely yelling.

From Washington Post

But it was Texas' Lyndon Johnson, Senate Democratic leader, who sounded the war whoop.

From Time Magazine Archive

My little brother, Teddy, lets out a war whoop when Mom’s AM radio announces the closures.

From "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman