alley-oop

al·ley–oop

noun \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

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

First Known Use: 1967