Huzzah
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Huzzah (originally huzza) is an old English expression of joy or approbation. According to the Oxford English Dictionary it is "apparently a mere exclamation" without any particular derivation. The OED notes, however, that in the 17th and 18th centuries it was identified as a sailor's cheer or salute, and thus was possibly related to words like heeze and hissa which are cognates of hoist.
The word hurrah is a more modern form, also related to similar words in European languages. The OED states: "In English the form hurrah is literary and dignified; hooray is usual in popular acclamation."
The term huzzah has been adopted, with no change in meaning, by modern gamers. This was popularized by the comic strip Knights of the Dinner Table.
See also w00t for a word similarly adopted by this subculture.
Quotations from the OED
- 1665 -- "Went on board the Prince . . .she had 700 men. They made a great huzza or shout at our approch, 3 times. -- John Evelyn, Diary, July 1
- 1679 -- "At his passing over the Bridge, the Castle saluted him with five great Guns, and closed the farewel with three Hussaws, Seamen like.