Howdy etimology

The word "howdy" is an informal greeting in the English language, often used in the Southern United States. It is a shortened form of the inquiry "How do ye?" which was used in late 16th century England to ask about others' health. The word has been used in various forms throughout history, including "howdy'ee" and "how dee". Nowadays, "howdy" is firmly planted in the Texas lexicon and is the official greeting at Texas A&M University. The word is also associated with friendly cowboys and is a version of another, older phrase used by Scottish and Irish immigrants who settled in the US, particularly in the South and West.