Yo

int. (sb.) Forms: 5 ȝo, io, ȝaw, 9 yo, yeo(h. An exclamation of incitement, warning, etc. (also repeated). In nautical use = YOHO. Occas. as sb. and in vbl. sb. yo-yoing.

c. 1420.  Avow. Arth., vii. [To hounds], Ȝaw thar suche him no mare.

c. 1450.  Mankind, 450, in Macro Plays, 17. Myscheff. How, New-gyse, Now-a-days! herke or I goo! When owur hedis wer to-gethere, I spake of ‘si dedero.’ Now-gyse. Ȝo! go þi wey! we xall gaþer mony on-to.

c. 1460.  Towneley Myst., ii. 25. Io furth, greyn-horne! and war oute, gryme!

1772.  Monthly Rev., XLII. 191/1. The scene was quite chang’d, ’twas no more yo, yo-ho.

1806.  Pinckard, Tour W. Indies, III. 343. A string of negroes singing out in the sailors’ cry—yeoh-yeoh, yeoh-yeoh, and hauling at a long rope.

1837.  Dickens, Pickw., ix. He was roused by a loud shouting of the post-boy on the leader. ‘Yo—yo—yo—yo—yoe,’ went the first boy. ‘Yo—yo—yo—yoe!’ went the second…. And amidst the yo-yoing … the chaise stopped.

1839.  Hood, Storm at Hastings, xiii. Sundry boatmen, that with quick yeo’s, Lest it should blow,—were pulling up the Rose.

1859.  Dickens, T. Two Cities, I. ii. Yo there! Stand! I shall fire!

1918.  Frank S. Gordon, in Poetry, XII. No. 3, June. ‘Morning Hymn,’ 1.