shoo
UK[ʃuː]US[ʃuː]
v
to tell an animal or a person to go away, especially by saying "shoo" or by waving your hands
interj
used to tell an animal or a person to go away
Etymology
The word 'shoo' is a classic example of onomatopoeia, a naturalistic imitation of a sound used to drive away birds or other animals. Its first recorded use in English dates to the late 15th century, and it is thought to be a natural exclamation, possibly related to similar scolding sounds found in other Germanic languages. The logic of its formation is direct and sensory: the sharp, sibilant "sh" sound mimics the hiss or rushing noise used to startle creatures, while the elongated "oo" provides a forceful expulsion of breath. This literal sound-symbolism evolved into a conventional verb and interjection for the act of urging something to leave, retaining its immediate, instinctive feel in modern usage.
Analysis
The word is a simplex, likely of imitative origin. It functions as a verb or interjection based on its use as a sound to scare away animals.
Examples
She tried to shoo the cats away from the kitchen door.
"Shoo! All of you, out of the garden!" he shouted.
He waved his arms to shoo the flies off the picnic food.