Lighter, I thank you for these references. I am always looking for word origins. I've found the earliest mention of the related cheer "huzza" in 1811 Dictionary in the Vulgar Tongue by Francis Grose
"Said to have been originally the cry of the huzzars or Hungarian light horse; but now the national shout of the English, both civil and military, in the sea phrase termed a cheer; to give three cheers being to huzza thrice."
I find this in accounts during the Civil War and Spanish American War and invite any views you may have on its origin.