Standard Lemma guide

heigh-ho

intj · noun · verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /ˌhaɪˈhoʊ/
  • UK: /ˈheɪˌhəʊ/
  • US: /ˌhaɪˈhoʊ/
  • US: /ˈheɪˈhoʊ/
  • homophone: hey ho
  • homophone: hi-ho

1

intj

Meaning 1

Used as a cadence-count used for synchronized walking, marching, pulling, lifting, etc.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Heigh-ho the dairy-o, the farmer in the dell...

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

intj

Meaning 2

Alternative spelling of hey ho.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Colaptes auratus, northern flicker.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To chant "heigh-ho".

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • 1927, Porterfield, William M., Bamboo and its uses in China, Chinese Government Bureau of Economic Information, Booklet Series 2, p.40. Cited in David Farrelly, The Book of Bamboo, p.25; Sierra Club Books, 1984. Big bamboo poles are used for carrying heavy loads in China. In the cities one hears the familiar antiphonal “heigh-ho'ing”, indicating that a heavy load is being moved somewhere. The heavier the load, the louder and more agonized the chant.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.