hep

hep · noun¹

Shortening.

hep · noun²

Alteration of hip.

hep · adjective, verb³

US slang of unknown or disputed origin, first recorded 1903. Robert Gold suggested that it is a variant of hip, from white jazz fans’ mishearing African American musicians. Jonathon Green suggests a connection to a 19th century interjection used to drive horses; compare gee up. Compare also happening.

hep · interjection⁴

1. German · borrowed fromhep
2. English todayhep

From German hep or Hepp-Hepp, an interjection used to attack Jewish people. The origin of the German source is unknown, but may come from a goatherd’s call.