# Origin of "boo" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 18, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-boo/88137 "2001-10-18T02:54:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dale\_The\_Bold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/41988e/32.png) [@Dale\_The\_Bold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_The_Bold)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-boo/88137/1 "2001-10-18T02:54:10Z")
Where did the expression “boo” come from? And why is this word associated with ghosts? :rolleyes: Yeah, like that scares me, too. Why not just jump out behind me and yell “gark,” it’ll work just as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sue\_Duhnym](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/91b2a8/32.png) [@Sue\_Duhnym](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sue_Duhnym)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-boo/88137/2 "2001-10-18T03:04:33Z")
As a WAG, I’d say that maybe it has to do with crying, a la boohoo. But then I’m frequently wrong, and an idiot to booooooot. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-boo/88137/3 "2001-10-18T03:27:21Z")
Far be it from me to disagree with Sue…She has my favorite handle on the whole board…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/origin-of-boo/88137/4 "2001-10-18T03:45:11Z")
In the 1950’s and earlier it meant _marijuana_! As an interjection, it is cited first in the 15th century. It not only was used to scare you but “used to express contempt or disapproval or to startle or frighten.” From my Webster’s Collegiate.