yawp

Intermediate 🎓 Education / Academia

Definition

A loud, barbaric cry or yell; a harsh, uncouth shout. Made famous by Walt Whitman's declaration 'I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world,' it conveys raw, unrestrained vocalization.

Example Usage

The crowd let out a collective yawp as the band took the stage.

Origin

Of uncertain origin, possibly onomatopoetic; popularized in American literature by Walt Whitman in 'Song of Myself' (1855).

Fun Fact

Though Whitman didn't invent the word, he immortalized it in one of American literature's most famous lines, and it has become a symbol of unfiltered self-expression.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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