What's the 'hip hip' about in 'hip hip hooray'?

Question

it makes no sense when you think about it.

Answer 1

You never heard of the hip flask it's a toast two sips from the hip and hooray for he's a jolly good fellow. Grandad told me.

Answer 2

Makes no real sense but the online etymology dictionary says
that "hip" means: an exclamation used to introduce a united cheer. But in lower German it means an animal's cry to attack. So it sounds more like a rallying cry to lead up to the Horray part.

Answer 3

I've always thought it was "hip hop hooray" though...it makes much more sense..doesn'it it?

Answer 4

"hip" is one of a family of interjections, including "hep" and "hup" used to get attention

Consider the following uses:

to animals
a) hep is a cry used by herders (such as shepherds) calling to their animals

b) hup is used by liontamer's directing the lions, and as a command to (guide) dogs

All three are used for keeping time/beat/step, e.g., :

a) to keep a march cadence: "hup [or 'hep'] two three four"

b) in football counts: "hup one! hup two!" or "hup hup!" (at beginning or end of account)

http://www.notmydog.com/2002_06_01_archive.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/ouch/columnists/damon/231003.shtml
http://straightdope.com/classics/a3_241b.html
http://www.pandecats.com/x/teach_sit_up.htm
http://yourdictionary.com/library/bender.html

Answer 5

silly things

Answer 6

why do they call a fork a fork?? same logic applies..