hello [E19th] This, like hallo [M16th] a form found well into the 20th century and still common in the policeman’s ‘’Allo, ’Allo, ’Allo’, is a variant of the earlier words hollo [E16th] and halloo [M16th]. They all come from cries used to urge on hunting dogs, and keep in touch will others in the field. Holler [L17th] is yet another form, now mainly found in the USA. The earlier greeting was hail (see wassail).