hunt's-up

noun

A tune played on the horn very early in the morning to call out the hunters; hence, any rousing sound or call.

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Meanings

nounhunt's-up (plural hunt's-ups)

plural hunt's-ups

  1. obsoleteA tune played on the horn very early in the morning to call out the hunters; hence, any rousing sound or call.

    Time plays the hunt's-up to thy sleepy head.

    1605, Michael Drayton, The Third Eclogue
    1 more example

    Since arme from arme that voyce doth vs affray, Hunting thee hence, with Hunts-vp to the day

    c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene v]
  2. obsoleteAny disturbing sound or noise; a racket, a disturbance.

    I'll play theſe Rake-hells such a Hunts up, / As were they ſhee's would turn their ⸺ up.

    1664, Charles Cotton, Scarronides

Origin

From "The hunt is up", the name of an old hunting song.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

hunt's-up. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hunt's-up

MLA

“hunt's-up.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hunt's-up. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hunt's-up,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hunt's-up.

Source: hunt's-up on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.