Where Did the Term Giddap Come from?

This phrase, which became a staple of “Western” literature and films in the 20th century, apparently arose as a combination of “hell-bent,” which first appeared in print in the early 18th century meaning “recklessly determined” and “hell for leather,” a late 19th century phrase which specifically meant riding a horse ...

What does the word Giddap mean?

/ (ɡɪˈdæp) / interjection. an exclamation used to make a horse go faster.

Why do you say giddy up to a horse?

"Giddy up" is a common phrase uttered by cowboys to tell their horses to go faster.

Robert Thorne

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor

Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.