What is the origin of the the new word yay?

Question

What is the origin of the the new word yay?

Question #67188. Asked by googurl.

Watson_Fan
Answer has 4 votes

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Watson_Fan

Answer has 4 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

Apparently it was originally taken from the word 'Yeah', which was taken from 'Yes'. People often say yes to rejoice, so saying 'Yay' is equal to it.

Jun 20 2006, 5:41 AM

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Answer 1

Been around for at least 12 years that I know of - so how new is new? Possibly from 'yea' rather than 'yeah'. Pronounced like 'yea' but with a different intonation. 'Yea' goes with things like 'verily', whereas 'yay! has an exclamation mark built in and goes with things like 'pub!'.

Answer 2

EggoWillie
Answer has 2 votes

EggoWillie

Answer has 2 votes.

Also, Yay is a slang term for Cocaine.

Jun 20 2006, 12:36 PM

Answer 3

MyAlias
Answer has 3 votes

MyAlias

Answer has 3 votes.

The term is actually "Yayo" made popular in Oliver Stones (screenplay writer) Scarface.

Jun 20 2006, 1:29 PM

Answer 4

zbeckabee
Answer has 3 votes

zbeckabee
Moderator
18 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 3 votes.

The really, really, really OLD "yay" goes back to the beginning of time...

"I kin remember when I was 'yay' high."

Jun 20 2006, 1:45 PM