interjection
- (used to scare or drive away a cat, dog, chickens, birds, etc.)
verb (used with object), shooed, shoo·ing.
- to drive away by saying or shouting “shoo.”
- to request or force (a person) to leave: I’ll have to shoo you out of here now.
verb (used without object), shooed, shoo·ing.
- to call out “shoo.”
interjection
- go away!: used to drive away unwanted or annoying people, animals, etc
verb shoos, shooing or shooed
- (tr) to drive away by or as if by crying “shoo.”
- (intr) to cry “shoo.”
1620s, “to drive away by calling ‘shoo,’ ” from the exclamation (late 15c.), perhaps instinctive, cf. German schu, Italian scioia. Related: Shooed; shooing.