ahoy
14
8.5
A shout sailors make to greet or get attention at sea
- noun
- /əˈhɔɪ/
:
saludo
- "Ahoy," he said, "a white whale."
- Ahoy, matey
- Ahoy, mate
- Ship ahoy
Examples
-
"In the distance, they heard a man bellowing, 'Ahoy! Ahoy Barracuda! Ahoy!'
Fiction book (2001) -
Land ahoy!
-
A voice behind Hettie said, "Ahoy, a white whale."
Fiction book (1997) -
Ship ahoy.
-
They heard a call then: "Ahoy, Kittiwake!"
Fiction book (1994) -
Ahoy, Red Beard.
-
Ahoy, first mate.
-
Ahoy, Freya.
-
Ahoy, mateys.
-
Just offshore, the captain called out to me: "Ahoy, Miss Emily!"
Synonyms
3
9.9
A loud old-fashioned call to get someone's attention
is mostly used by sailors as an attention call at sea
1
8.6
A friendly greeting used to get someone's attention
is more specific to sailors and used aboard ships at sea
1
7.8
A loud call to get someone's attention from a distance
is mainly used by sailors when calling across open water
1
4.4
A short shout used to get someone's attention
is traditionally used by sailors to hail others at sea
hola
vsahoy
1
7.8
A friendly call to get someone's attention or say hello
is mainly used by sailors when calling or greeting at sea
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ahoy first meant the shout itself and likely comes from a short call hoi (like 'hey') that sailors used. That's why a captain's ahoy is a loud greeting or warning on the water.