haw

1
[ haw ]
See synonyms for haw on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object)
  1. to utter a sound representing a hesitation or pause in speech.

noun
  1. a sound or pause of hesitation.: Compare hem2 (def. 3).

Origin of haw

1
First recorded in 1625–35; imitative

Words Nearby haw

Other definitions for haw (2 of 5)

haw2
[ haw ]

interjection
  1. (used as a word of command to a horse or other draft animal, usually directing it to turn to the left.)

verb (used with or without object)
  1. to turn or make a turn to the left: The horse refused to haw.

Origin of haw

2
An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; apparently originally the imperative haw! “look!” of Middle English hawen, Old English hāwian “to look, regard”; akin to Latin cavēre “to take precautions, beware”

Other definitions for haw (3 of 5)

haw3
[ haw ]

noun
  1. the fruit of the Old World hawthorn, Crataegus laevigata, or of other species of the same genus.

  2. the hawthorn.

Origin of haw

3
First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English haga, presumably identical with haga “hedge, fence”; cf. hawthorn

Other definitions for haw (4 of 5)

haw4
[ haw ]

noun
  1. the thin, protective membrane at the inner corner of the lower eyelid of a horse, dog, etc.; nictitating membrane.

Origin of haw

4
First recorded in 1515–1525; origin uncertain

Other definitions for Haw. (5 of 5)

Haw.

abbreviation
  1. Hawaii.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use haw in a sentence

  • A chorus of haw haws, showed how delighted his fellow-clowns were with farmer Joe's story.

    The World Before Them | Susanna Moodie
  • The Irish title of the letter a or haw is alif, as also is the Arabian: the Greek alpha is either alpa or alfa.

    Archaic England | Harold Bayley
  • This seemed a good joke, and they all howled and haw-hawed gleefully.

    Wayside Courtships | Hamlin Garland
  • Why do these—these people at the fort hem and haw and hesitate when they speak about him?

    Warrior Gap | Charles King
  • He looked like an animated drying-post, and the Dutch boy, in spite of his troubles, began to haw-haw wildly.

    Motor Matt's Mystery | Stanley R. Matthews

British Dictionary definitions for haw (1 of 4)

haw1

/ (hɔː) /


noun
  1. the round or oval fruit (a pome) of the hawthorn, usually red or yellow, containing one to five seeds

  2. another name for hawthorn

Origin of haw

1
Old English haga, identical with haga hedge; related to Old Norse hagi pasture

British Dictionary definitions for haw (2 of 4)

haw2

/ (hɔː) /


noun, interjection
  1. an inarticulate utterance, as of hesitation, embarrassment, etc; hem

verb
  1. (intr) to make this sound

  2. hem and haw or hum and haw See hem 2 (def. 3)

Origin of haw

2
C17: of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for haw (3 of 4)

haw3

/ (hɔː) /


noun
  1. archaic a yard or close

Origin of haw

3
of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for haw (4 of 4)

haw4

/ (hɔː) /


noun
  1. the nictitating membrane of a horse or other domestic animal

Origin of haw

4
C15: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with haw

haw

see hem and haw.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.