ho

¹

[hoh]

interjection

1. (used as a call to attract attention, sometimes specially used after a word denoting a destination).

   Westward ho! Land ho!

2. (used as an exclamation of surprise or delight.)

ho

²

[hoh]

interjection

1. (used as a command to a horse to stop.)

ho

³

Or hoe

[hoh]

noun

Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.

plural

hos, hoes, ho's. 

1. a sexually promiscuous woman.

2. a prostitute; whore.

3. a woman.

Ho

⁴

Symbol, Chemistry.

1. holmium.

HO

⁵

[hoh]

noun

1. (in police use) habitual offender.

ho.

⁶

abbreviation

1. house.

H.O.

⁷

abbreviation

1. Head Office; Home Office.

HO

¹

abbreviation

1. head office

2. government Home Office

ho

²

/ həʊ /

interjection

1. Also: ho-ho. an imitation or representation of the sound of a deep laugh

2. an exclamation used to attract attention, announce a destination, etc

   what ho!

   land ho!

   westward ho!

Ho

³

symbol

1. holmium

ho

⁴

/ həʊ /

noun

1. slang:Black,  a derogatory term for a woman

ho.

⁵

abbreviation

1. house

Word History and Origins

Origin of HO¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English; a natural exclamation

Origin of HO²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English ho, who, from Old French ho, and Old Norse hō; whoa

Origin of HO³

First recorded in 1965–70; dialectal or African American Vernacular English pronunciation of whore

Word History and Origins

Origin of HO¹

C13: of imitative origin; compare Old Norse hó, Old French ho! halt!

Origin of HO²

C20: from Black or Southern US pronunciation of _whore

Example Sentences

Using data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging, Ho and Fuller-Thomson analyzed 8,332 adults who did not initially meet the criteria for optimal well-being and followed up with them three years later, when all participants were at least 60 years old.

Read more on Science Daily

Judge James Ho, on the 5th Circuit, has suggested that the president should have the unlimited power to fire any civil servant that he wants.

Read more on Slate

We can hear his booming “ho, ho, ho” now.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The project aims to promote medical tourism in Macau, create jobs and bring healthcare and leisure under one roof, said the resort chain's chief executive Lawrence Ho.

Read more on BBC

The hospital project fits with Macau's economic diversification plans, said Mr Ho.

Read more on BBC

When To Use

What does ho mean?

Not to be confused with hoe (the gardening tool), a ho is an offensive term for a sex worker or a promiscuous woman. Some people use the term to insult women in general while some women have reclaimed the term.What are other forms of ho?hoe