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Word of the year: "w00t"

6 Comments

As the end of the year approaches, it’s time for wrap-ups and commemorations of the year’s passing.  Merriam-Webster dictionary has marked this year by commemorating “w00t” as the Word of the Year for 2007.  As a reward, the word has been added the Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary, but it won’t yet be added the the official lexicon, at least not yet.

So, wordsmiths, the source I’ve heard of this word has been that it’s a contraction often used by D&D players, “Wow, I found loot!”  What’s your opinion on the origin?

(a w00t shoutout to Dailytech) (image from flickr user MikeNeilson – do you know how many party pics I had to go through to find this?)

6 thoughts on “Word of the year: "w00t"”

  1. I think your suggestion is a backronym – although, as with all web-speak and 1337, we WILL never produce A verifiable etymologY with any ease. But I think it’s most likely just a faux-1337 spoof spelling of an extended version of “woo!” – in other words, just a general expression of glee that caught on, imho. 😉

  2. I think it is based on Homer. I can see him do it, clearly. Visualise it. It is homer? Yes. It is homer.

  3. Gee Paul, way to take the fun out of idle, baseless speculation 😛

    Dagon, I don’t know – I can’t quite see Ulysses spouting “w00t!” after the fall of Troy.

  4. Iliad, Book XII

    With these words he led the way, and the others followed after with a cry that rent the air. Then Jove the lord of thunder sent the blast of a mighty wind from the mountains of Ida, that bore the dust down towards the ships; he thus lulled the Achaeans into security, and gave victory to Hector and to the Trojans, who, trusting to their own might and to the signs he had shown them, essayed to break through the great wall of the Achaeans. They tore down the breastworks from the walls, and overthrew the battlements; they upheaved the buttresses, which the Achaeans had set in front of the wall in order to support it; when they had pulled these down they made sure of breaking through the wall, but the Danaans still showed no sign of giving ground; they still fenced the battlements with their shields of ox-hide, and hurled their missiles down upon the foe as soon as any came below the wall. And after this labour they w00ted merrily.

  6. ‘I can’t quite see Ulysses spouting “w00t!” after the fall of Troy.’

    Oh, I could. Followed by some variation on “I’m in ur base…”

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