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pirate english - What does “yo-ho-ho” mean?


The pirate song “Fifteen Men on a Dead Man’s Chest” from Treasure Island contains the expression yo-ho-ho.



Fifteen men on the dead man’s chest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!
Drink and the devil had done for the rest—
Yo-ho-ho, and a bottle of rum!



Does this signify laughter, a piratical variation of ho-ho-ho? It doesn’t seem like an amusing little ditty but then pirates probably would have a dark sense of humour. Or is it simply a more piratey song filler than na-na-na?



Answer



Accordin’ to yon pirate page, yo-ho-ho indeed be pirate laughter.


But there be also another source claimin’ that ’tis merely a scallywag’s variant of yo-heave-ho, the chant that all good sea-farin’ folk use to keep their rhythm when haulin’ cannon to the scuppers.


Seems ’tis likely yo-ho-ho be used to maintain the rhythm in yer fine sea chantey as well. When ye shipmates sing out yo, yer all be givin’ yon rope a hearty pull.


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