Plz don't say its to scare someone. How did saying boo come about?
An exclamation in English used to evoke or suggest surprise, typically associated with ghosts.
2007-06-04 07:17:37 · 3 answers · asked by Michael N 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
"Origin: 1810–20; expressive formation"
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1), Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary
"Imitative"
American Heritage Dictionary
Dictionary.com : http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/boo
""to startle," c.1430, probably because it can be pronounced as a loud, booming sound; as an expression of disapproval, 1816, perhaps imitative of oxen; hence, the verb meaning "shower someone with boos" (1893). Boo-hoo first recorded 1525, originally of laughter or weeping. To say boo "open one's mouth, speak," originally was to say boo to a goose."
Online Etymology Dictionary : http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=boo&searchmode=none
2007-06-04 07:39:58 · answer #1 · answered by Erik Van Thienen 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As with many terms in the English language, it was probably crossed over (bastardized, if you like) from a term in a different language.
2007-06-04 14:25:24 · answer #2 · answered by Lucifer Sam 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Well, in German we use to say "boo" also to scare people^^. But we spell it "bu".
but why exactly this word, I don´t know.
2007-06-04 14:25:13 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋