Tally-ho

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The phrase tally-ho is used in foxhunting, shouted when a rider sees the fox.

[edit] Etymology

The phrase was first brought to Britain by William the Conqueror, an avid stag hunter, after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The old Norman phrase was "Ty a Hillaut,"^{[citation needed]} and was shouted when a deer had been found. It became the phrase "Tally-ho" in England, and is still shouted in fox hunts today.

One book contained a theory that "Tally ho" came from the Palestinian Arabic for "Come here!" (Tāl hum or similar) brought back by returning Crusaders.

[edit] In air traffic control

In addition to its use in foxhunting, this expression became commonly used during the Second World War by English-speaking fighter pilots to say that an enemy aircraft has been sighted. This phrase has since been used by civilian pilots in response to traffic advisories provided by air traffic controllers. The pilot's response "Tally" or "Tally-ho" tells air traffic controllers that the pilot has seen the air traffic in question. For example:

ATC: "ABC aircraft identifier, traffic at two o'clock, seven miles, a Boeing 737, west-bound, at 4000 feet."

Pilot: "ABC, Tally-ho."