{ Ho , Hoa } (hō),
interj. [Cf. F. & G. ho.]
1.
Halloo! attend! -- a call to excite attention, or to give notice of approach. "What noise there, ho?" Shak. "Ho! who's within?"
Shak.
2. [Perhaps
corrupted fr. hold; but
cf. F. hau stop! and E. whoa.] Stop! stand still! hold! - - a word now used by teamsters, but formerly to order the cessation of anything. [Written also whoa, and, formerly, hoo.]
The duke . . . pulled out his sword
and cried "Hoo!"
Chaucer.
An herald on a scaffold
made an hoo.
Chaucer.
{ Ho , Hoa } (?), n. [See Ho, interj., 2.]
A stop; a halt; a moderation of pace.
There is no
ho with them.
Decker.
Ho (?), pron. Who. [Obs.]
In some Chaucer MSS.
Hear it pronounced