Ho, Hoa (?), n. [See Ho, interj., 2.]
A stop; a halt; a moderation of pace.
There is no ho with them.
Decker.
© Webster 1913.
Ho, Hoa (?), interj. [Cf. F. & G. ho.]
1.
Halloo! attend! -- a call to excite attention, or to give notice of approach.
"What noise there,
ho?"
Shak.
"Ho! who's within?"
Shak.
2. [Perhaps corrupted fr. hold; but cf. F. hau stop! and E. whoa.]
Stop! stand still! hold! -- a word now used by teamsters, but formerly to order the cessation of anything.
[Written also whoa, and, formerly, hoo.]
The duke . . . pulled out his sword and cried "Hoo!"
Chaucer.
An herald on a scaffold made an hoo.
Chaucer.
© Webster 1913.