Also 5 whoppe, 5–6 whope, 6 whoup, whup, 6–7 whop, 7 whoope. [A natural exclamation consisting of a voiceless w followed by an o or u sound, concluded by closure of the lips. The phonetic significance of some early forms is uncertain.] An exclamation, or representation of a shout or cry, expressing excitement, surprise, derision, exultation, incitement, etc.
1568. Hist. Jacob & Esau, I. i. A iij b. Whoup. Nowe a mischief on all mopyng fooles for mee.
1589. Marprel. Epit. (1843), 53. Whope papist, say the puritans, is that become scripture with you?
1596. Harington, Apol., Bb 8 b. Sir Raph Horsey, nine. Sir Hugh Portman, ten. Whop, why howe nowe Master K. Shiriffes man? Here is but ten.
1599. Cutwode, Caltha Poet., clxxx. E 7. The scantlin won, the winners must cry whup, The goale is got, and now the game is vp.
1603. Dekker & Chettle, Grissil, IV. ii. 2128. Whoope whether is my brother basket-maker gone?
1622. Massinger & Dekker, Virg. Mart., II. i. Dor. Whisper but to mine eare, and you shall furnish them. Hir. Whisper, nay, Lady, for my part Ile cry whoope.
1638. Brathwait, Barnabees Jrnl., III. (1876), F j. Whup (Faustulus) all draw ny thee That doe love thee.
1677. W. Hughes, Man of Sin, III. iii. 94. Joceline tells, that St. Patrick did … fast … a whole Lent together…. Whoop! but St. Aidan, (as Capgrave tells us,) fasted full fifty days.
1691. Mrs. D’Anvers, Academia, 22. Whop Sir, thought I, and what ado’s here?
1810. Scott, Lady of L., VI. v. Yet whoop, Jack! kiss Gillian the quicker.
1820. Keats, Cap & Bells, lxxv. She clapped her hands three times and cried out ‘Whoop.’
1848. Dickens, Dombey, lv. ‘Halloa! whoop! Halloa! Hi!’ Away, at a gallop.
1896. H. G. Wells, Wheels of Chance, iv. 31. Whoop for Freedom and Adventure!
b. Coupled with another interjection or with a vocative in an allusive phrase.
c. 1450. Mankind, 600, in Macro Plays, 22. Whope! who! Mercy hath brokyn hys neke-kycher a-vows. Ibid., 713. 26. Hay, doog! hay, whoppe! whoo! go yowur wey lyghtly!
1592. Nashe, Strange Newes, F 2 b. And cry kulleloo, kulleloo, with whup hoo, there goes the Ape of Tully.
1593. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 178. The whoop-hooe of good boyes in London streetes.
1596. Nashe, Saffron Walden, X 2 b. So would hee haue writte Harueys whoope diddle, or the nonsuting, or vncasing of the animaduertiser.
1598. R. Bernard, trans. Terence, Andria, III. i. Whup, hoida: what, in all hast?
1605. Shaks., Lear, I. iv. 245. Whoop Iugge I loue thee.
1621. B. Jonson, Masque Gypsies, Wks. (1640), 68. The ballet of Whoope Barnibie.
1634. Heywood & Brome, Lanc. Witches, IV. i. G 2. Whoope, whurre, heres a sturre.
1678. Dryden, Limberham, V. i. Whoop Holiday! our trusty and well-beloved Giles, most welcome!
1688. R. Holme, Armoury, II. 176/1. Whoop, Whopoo, is the Shepherds call or cry, to call the Sheep together.
