In addition to the
former post, there is another common usage for the term
w00t when it is used as an exlamation of success or happiness.
To begin with some history on the origins of
this specific usage the term
w00t, one must be vaguely familiar with the
Unix or
Linux computer
operating system.
Linux is a
multi-user operating system which relies on an order of power, where the most powerful user in the
computer system is called
root.
Hax0rs, when trying to take control of a
remote Linux computer , try to access it on the
root level, so as to gain full control over the machine for purposes good or evil.
In my experience, in the
olden days of this computer hacking, it became customary for these
hax0rs to brag about their feats in chat, such as
IRC.
w00t thus became the
l33t sp34k term for having obtained
root access on a machine, or a general expression of "success!" or "I did it!"
Update: 9.30.2003
In my continuing quest for the origins of "woot" I have found the first use of the word on usenet. The post follows.
From: David M Stokes (v110mhwh@ubvms.cc.buffalo.edu)
Subject: AOE is INCREDIBLE!!!
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.flight-sim
Date: 1993-09-20 17:22:30 PST
I'm really hoping that someday soon I'll see that subject heading up
here... :( Yea I know how you feel. BASTARD! How could I?? Well
we got a few guys here at work chewing their legs off waiting... since
Feb if I can remember back that long... Oh well...
Word! Woot there it is!
Dave
I am not responsible for anything.