variants of HOW, HOWE int.
[c. 1425. Quhow: see WHEW int.]
1542. Udall, Erasm. Apoph., 314. Whough, saieth he, half my brothers bodye is more then the whole.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Phormio, III. iii. How much money need you? speake. But thirtie poundes. Thirtie! Whow.
1615. Brathwait, Strappado, 129. Whou Billie whou, what faire has thou bin at?
1627. W. Hawkins, Apollo Shroving, II. iv. 33. He answered me nothing but whough, pugh.
1815. Scott, Guy M., xlv. ‘Eh whow! Eh whow!’ ejaculated the honest farmer, as he looked round upon his friend’s miserable apartment.
So † Whowb(e (in quots. as sb.; cf. howbub, HUBBUB).
1600. W. Watson, Decacordon, VII. x. (1602), 217. They hissed him out with whoubs & hoo-bubs. Ibid., IX. viii. 327 [see HOW, HOWE int.].
