hooraw

Interjection

1. Used to express joy, excitement, amusement, or approval; hooray.
   • Then hooraw for the Tars of old England so free, The pride of the world, and the lords of the sea, The pride of the world, and the lords of the sea.1825, Charles Dibdin, The Sea Songs of the Immortal Charles Dibdin, page 90
   • “Hooraw !” cried one of the spectators, whose red flannel shirt seemed to indicate the propriety of looking out for a new One.1844, Charles Sealsfield, Life In The New World; Or Sketches Of American Society

Noun

hooraw (plural hooraws)

1. A noisy or boisterous gathering or activity; uproar.
   • They march in processions and get up hooraws, And wade through the mud for the good of the cause1889 January-June, Martin J. Griffin, “Diary of a Visitor in New York During the Presidential Election”, in Murray's Magazine, volume 5, page 89
   • Today the arts had been abandoned for sport, in this case basketball, and from the hooraw going on in the corner of the room it would appear some money was riding on the outcome.1997, Dana Stabenow, Breakup, →ISBN, page 171
2. An unsophisticated person.
   • Besides, some of those hooraws will know you on sight.2012, William W. Johnstone, Blood of Eagles, →ISBN
   • "I never knew no hooraws before, Long Man," said Clint. "Reckon I can get used to you, though."2016, William T. Delamar, Atavus Falls, →ISBN
3. A nonce word.
   • In fact, when you see all these things happening, Mr. Speaker, when you listen to that kind of hooraw — coming from the other side — it is a wonderful example of the awful things that can happen when cousins marry.1978, Canada. Parliament. House of Commons, House of Commons Debates, Official Report - Volume 2, page 1501
   • After unleashing a tirade of profanity: Lawrence Will recorded his response as: “Dag-nabbit, I can't even set foot on the blasphemous property to see what in the hooraw I've bought!”2006, Michael Grunwald, The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise, →ISBN, page 785

Verb

hooraw (third-person singular simple present hooraws, present participle hoorawing, simple past and past participle hoorawed)

1. To make loud noises at, such as when driving horses or cattle.
   • As the driver hoorawed the horses and the three other passengers grabbed the hand straps for support, Friendly ran up to Longarm's window, looking harried.2007, Tabor Evans, Longarm and the Dwarf's Darling, →ISBN
   • He was in the act of dismounting when someone up ahead through the underbrush hoorawed a loose horse.2008, Lauran Paine, Feud on the Mesa, →ISBN, page 216
2. To loudly and publicly celebrate or express support for someone or something.
   • Sha'nt I have to hooraw nor nothin'? 'cause 'twould go awfully agin my conshence to hooraw for Van Buren.1867, Mrs. Francis Miriam (Berry) Whitcher, M. L. Ward Whitcher, Widow Spriggins, Mary Elmer, and Other Sketches, page 370
   • I wuz permitted 2 rize after hoorawing for Duglis.1969, John M. Harrison, The Man who Made Nasby: David Ross Locke, page 73
3. To fool; to trick.
   • Hey, you just got hoorawed, boy, you got your leg pulled.2011, Brian Garfield, Wild Times
   • I know all about the limit, but I figure a man as smart and important as you can find a way to hooraw the deal so the other owners won't know.2015, James W. Bennett, Donald Raycraft, Old Hoss: A Fictional Baseball Biography of Charles Radbourn, →ISBN
4. To make fun of.
   • Yo' see, it happen so : Marse Chan he wuz a- speakin' down at de Deep Creek Tavern, an' he kind o' got de bes' of ole Cun'l Chahmb'lin. All de white folks laughed an' hoorawed, an' ole Cun'l Chahmb'lin -- My Lawd! I t'ought he'd 'a' bu'st, he was so mad.1897, Thomas Nelson Page, Marse Chan: A Tale of Old Virginia, page 21
   • She told Morgan, whose face was still badly swollen and bruised, that he cut a grand handsome figure, and he wondered how, in her female scheme of things, it was acceptable for her to hooraw his appearance when he was not allowed to poke innocent fun at hers.2010, Howard Frank Mosher, Walking to Gatlinburg: A Novel, →ISBN, page 214