int. Naut. [A int. + HOY.]

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  A.  A nautical call used in hailing.

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1751.  Smollett, Per. Pic. (1779), I. ii. 12. Ho! the house a hoy.

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1828.  Moore, Meeting of Ships, ii. 8. Ship ahoy! ship ahoy! what cheer? what cheer?

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1873.  Symonds, Grk. Poets, viii. 268. The good times when the sailor only knew enough to sing out ‘Ahoy’ and call for biscuit.

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  B.  as vb. To call ahoy. (Cf. to hurrah, halloo.)

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1881.  Century Mag., XXIII. 54. ‘Schooner ahoy!’ says a voice from the shore, and she ahoys.

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