ahoy

Meanings

1. 1
   intj

   nautical: used to hail a ship, lookout, or person and attract attention

   "Masthead ahoy!" the captain called to the lookout above.

2. 2
   intj

   used after a noun to announce that something has been sighted or is approaching, sometimes extended humorously to an impending event

   "Whale ahoy!" came the cry from the topmast.

3. 3
   verb

   rare: to hail someone or something with the cry ahoy

   The sailors ahoyed the passing schooner until its crew answered.

Recorded as a nautical hail in the eighteenth century, probably formed from a- and hoy, an older call used to attract attention or coordinate hauling. Hoy itself is attested in Middle English and has parallels such as Dutch hoi, a greeting.

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