The answers above are correct; it means "yes". It's used in Congress when voting orally. As a sailor we said it a lot aboard ships because the language aboard ships is special. The word "aye" is of unknown origin but there is a word in Old Norse which some think is the early version of the word in modern English. But there is also a similar word in other languages from other parts of the world which only tells me that the word was used by sailors. Good question. My Skype: brian.madden4

Scottish or north eastern english way of saying yes

It means "yes", usually in agreement.

Said to express assent; yes: "aye, you are right".