Word of the Day -- Yawp

Today's word, yawp, is a good word for those crusaders out there who are apt to run into -- or better yet -- try to avoid barbarians.  Yawp is a loud, raucous noise or squawk.  It first appeared sometime in the 14th century. This verb comes from Middle English "yolpen," most likely itself derived from the past participle of "yelpen," meaning "to boast, call out, or yelp." Interestingly, "yawp" retains much of the meaning of "yelpen," in that it implies a type of complaining which often has a yelping or squawking quality. An element of foolishness, in addition to the noisiness, is often implied as well. "Yawp" can also be a noun meaning "a raucous noise" or "squawk." The noun "yawp" arrived on the scene approximately 500 years after the verb. It was greatly popularized by "Song of Myself," a poem by Walt Whitman containing the line "I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world."  So the next time you hear a loud yawp during your game, you'll know what it is!