In the 1870s, Scottish-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell did much development for the newly-invented telephone. Bell's preferred salutation, ahoy-hoy was derived from the nautical term "Ahoy" which in its turn is derived from Dutch "hoi" meaning "hello".
A recent resurgence in the popularity of the term has resulted from its use by Simpsons character Montgomery Burns, who often answers the telephone with the greeting of "Ahoy-hoy." The use of the now-defunct ahoy-hoy, instead of the standard "hello", is a running joke referring to Mr. Burns living in the past.
Most recently however, the term Ahoy has become a common greeting among the socialite elite. It is a common occurrence to hear the exclamation of "Ahoy!" on the dance floor, however, these people are beginning to be viewed as "unhip" because of the constant use of the once-cool saying and greeting.


Over the past decade, however, "Simpsons" character Mr. Burns has often employed the "Ahoy-hoy" greeting. (His use is part of a running joke that presents the century-old Mr. Burns as a character who is completely oblivious to modern times and lives in the past.