w00t
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The term "w00t" (pronounced, and sometimes spelled, "woot"; IPA pronunciation: [wuːt]) is a slang interjection used to express happiness or excitement, most often expressed via the Internet. The expression has been used in Usenet posts [1], multiplayer computer games (especially first-person shooters), the IRC and SILC chat protocols, instant messages, weblogs, and web forums, and even spoken aloud. It is considered as leet speak (l337).
Possible derivations
- Co-opted in the 1990's in dance clubs from 1970's disco chant: (beat) (beat) "Woop(t), Woop," a la a klaxon or siren.
- As a vocal expression, perhaps a portmanteau of "woo" and "hoot".
- As a type of onomatopoeia, reflecting the rising sound of a siren or klaxon.
- From MUD video games, meaning "wow, loot!", "woohoo, loot", or "wonderful loot". Also spelled wewt.
- Acronym for "Win Over Other Team", or in the original Quake servers as "We Owned the Other Team" or "We Own Other Teams" [citation needed].
- In the hacking/cracking scene, the administrative account on Unix-like systems is usually named "root". One of the aims in cracking a system of this type is gaining "root" access, and hence full control of the system. Under this derivation "w00t" is a leetspeak corruption of the word "root", used as a general exclamation of victory.
- "What" in leetspeak.
- Acronym for "Waste of Our Time," that confused sarcasm for excitement.
- Woot is the name of a mask/helmet used by the Kuba people of the congo to repesent the first ancestor. Used in initiation ceremonies for boys, funerals, or rituals concerning the sacred king. Made of fiber, cowries, beads and wood.
The games/cracking scene usage of the word w00t seem of later origin than the vocal expression. The oldest references on Usenet to w00t date from 1996, woot can be found as early as 1994 ("Woot! I got 'da Land!").
Usage
- Used as an exclamation, often used alone.
- Example: "w00t! i just pwn3d that n00b!" (Commonly used while online gaming.)
- Example: "This game sucks." "w00t!" (used as a sarcastic substitute for a meaningful reply.)
- Example: "w00t! i are teh 1337" (Also used while online gaming)
- Example: "Sniper Rifle!w00t!"
- Example: "w00t w00t! I got a kill-a-man-awesome!
