hunt's-up: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very rare / ArchaicHistorical / Literary
Quick answer
What does “hunt's-up” mean?
A morning song or signal to wake hunters.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A morning song or signal to wake hunters; historically, a tune played at dawn to rouse hunting parties.
Any early morning call or signal; figuratively, something that serves as a rousing or awakening.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No contemporary difference; the term is equally archaic in both varieties. Historically, it would have been more familiar in British contexts due to the tradition of English country hunting.
Connotations
Evokes a pastoral, historical, or Shakespearean England. May carry a quaint or antiquated feel.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in modern corpora for both. Slightly higher chance of appearing in British historical novels or poetry.
Grammar
How to Use “hunt's-up” in a Sentence
[Subject] played/sounded the hunt's-up.The hunt's-up was played at dawn.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Only in historical or literary studies discussing Renaissance music, Shakespeare, or social history.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Not used.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hunt's-up”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hunt's-up”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hunt's-up”
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to hunt's-up').
- Using it in a modern context.
- Misspelling as 'huntsup' or 'hunt-up'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an archaic term. You will only find it in historical texts, literature, or discussions of past customs.
No, it is exclusively a noun. Historically, one would 'play' or 'sound' the hunt's-up.
'Reveille' is a specific military wake-up call still in use. 'Hunt's-up' was a civilian, hunting-related morning signal from a much earlier historical period.
The apostrophe indicates the possessive/genitive form, meaning 'the hunt's call to get up'. It's a shortened form of 'the hunt's up' (i.e., the hunt is up and about).
A morning song or signal to wake hunters.
Hunt's-up is usually historical / literary in register.
Hunt's-up: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhʌnts ʌp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhʌnts ʌp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None directly associated; the term itself is idiomatic.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HUNTer getting UP to the sound of a horn. HUNT'S-UP.
Conceptual Metaphor
MORNING IS A CALL TO ACTION; THE START OF AN ACTIVITY IS A WAKE-UP SIGNAL.
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you most likely encounter the term 'hunt's-up'?