Heigh

/heɪ/ interjection

Definition

An archaic or poetic exclamation expressing emotion, often used to call attention or express longing, made famous by 'heigh-ho.'

Etymology

An imitative interjection with roots in Middle English, likely related to other similar calls like 'hey' and 'heh,' used as early as the 14th century in English literature.

Kelly Says

Shakespeare used 'heigh' repeatedly in plays like 'As You Like It'—the interjection 'heigh-ho' became so embedded in English literature that it outlasted its original pronunciation and is now mostly a nostalgic artifact.

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