int. Also 8–9 yoics, 9 yoix, yooicks. [Cf. YOAKS, YOI, and HOICKS, earlier hoik (1607), hoic, which is used similarly to, and appears to be a variant of, hike, hyke, as in hike hallow, hyke a Bewmont (see Turbervile, Hunting, 31, 112, 175).] A call used in fox-hunting to urge on the hounds; also occas. gen. as an exclamation of excitement or exultation.
1774. Westm. Mag., II. 657. The bold Fox-hunter, just come up to town, From ‘Yoicks, hark forward,’ loves to seem a clown.
1777. [T. Swift], Gamblers, I. 54.
| Rude manners mark Sir Bugle’s early years, | |
| ‘Hark forward! Yoics!’ with rough delight he hears. |
c. 1800. Armiger’s Sportsman’s Vocal Cabinet (1830), 112. Old Juno, young Scentwell, bold Jowler, and Tray, Yoix! yoix! have compelled him to yield.
1831–4. R. S. Surtees, Jorrocks’s Jaunts, i. (1838), 11. The wood begins to resound with shouts of ‘Yoicks True-bo-y, yoicks True-bo-y, yoicks push him up, yoicks wind him!’
1858. in Morn. Chron., 5 Nov., 7/1. The energetic ‘view-holloa,’ and the hearty cheerful ‘yoicks-tally ho.’
1875. F. T. Buckland, Log-Bk., 3. Yoicks! tear him, my beauties!
1884. Lucy B. Walford, in Blackw. Mag., May, 642/1. With renewed spirits he jumped into a hansom, and gave the direction…. ‘Yoicks!’ cried he to himself, ‘I’m going it!’
Hence Yoicks (also yoick) v., intr. to cry ‘yoicks!’; trans. to urge on by crying ‘yoicks!’
1847. R. S. Surtees, Hawbuck Gr., xiv. The swell huntsman yoicked his hounds into cover. Ibid. (1854), Handley Cr., xlvii. (1901), II. 63. The hounds dashed into cover, and master and man proceeded to ‘yoicks’ and crack their whips.
