First Known Use: 1967
Dictionary
alley–oop
noun al·ley–oop \ˌa-lē-ˈyüp\
Definition of ALLEY-OOP
: a basketball play in which a leaping player catches a pass above the basket and immediately dunks the ball; also : the usually looping pass thrown on such a play
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Origin of ALLEY-OOP
alteration of allez-oop, cry of a circus acrobat about to leap, probably from French allez, 2d person plural imperative of aller to go + English -oop, perhaps alteration of up
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