It appears to originated in the gaming community. I can see many different possible explanations of its original meaning and use: -We Own the Other Team -Wow! Loot! I think that this next origin makes more sense. Hackers in the 80’s would spend hours trying to gain unauthorized root access to a system, and once they did, they would get excited and shout, “Root!” This eventually turned into “W00T!” A third possible definition, which predates hacking by 700 years, is this first documented use of the term in Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales”: “Whos is that faire child, that stondeth yonder?” “I noot,” quod he, “by God and by Seint John! A mooder he hath, but fader hath he noon, That I of woot.” ... ... “But God woot” But I am not 100% about what the real origin is. Just some explanations that have been offered.