havoc

[Luanne von Schneidemesser]

I received the following.   Another folk-etym -- can anyone help with the
source of this?  I've never heard this one.

Thanks.

Luanne



A friend told me years ago that the english word "havoc" was really an
acronym - that the letters stood for latin words.  He said that the cry
"havoc" would be given by a roman commander when, after a city's wall was
breached, the defenders would not immediately surrender.  That was the
attackers command to kill every living thing within the city.

Is it true, and if so what are the latin words?

Thanks for any help you can give.