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Yikes!

Posted by R. OEDipal Complex Berg on January 19, 2003

In Reply to: Yikes! posted by R. O on January 19, 2003

: : I was interested to learn that "yikes" is actually a word. It is listed in the American Heritage Dictionary in any case. It says the origin is unknown, but I thought it would be worth posting to see if anyone else has any information about it, how old it is, etc.

: : It's probably also one of those words that is always plural. I can't imagine there is such a thing as a "yike".

Okay, okay, I take the hint.
OED 1st ed. has no "yikes," pl. It has "yike," sing., "an imitation of the cry of the woodpecker."

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