DCHP-1 Online
war-whoop † 
1 n. a blood-curdling yell uttered by Indians engaged in or about to engage in battle.
- 1768-82 (1791) The Savages immediately rushed from their ambush, and setting up the war-hoop, fell upon the enemy, scalped seven of them, and took five prisoners, whom we painted like ourselves.
- 1805 The war-whoop's echo and the slave's sad throes / are hush'd in music, pleasure, and repose.
- 1929 . . . the war-whoop . . . is produced by yelling in falsetto, and at the same time rapidly slapping the open mouth with the palm of the hand.
2 n. Figurative use.
- 1958 The occasional war whoop entered the fray, but this came . . . from assorted visiting warlike tribesmen from Scotland, Newfoundland and the Prairie Provinces.
- 1768-82 (1791) The Savages immediately rushed from their ambush, and setting up the war-hoop, fell upon the enemy, scalped seven of them, and took five prisoners, whom we painted like ourselves.