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Havering

[hey-ver-ing]
noun
  1. a borough of Greater London, England.
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haver1

[hey-ver]
verb (used without object) Chiefly British.
  1. to equivocate; vacillate.
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Origin of haver1

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for havering

Historical Examples

  • The Queen removed to Havering, which lay midway between her two armies.

    Clare Avery

    Emily Sarah Holt

  • Mr. Veley also mentions a Joseph Shakespeare of Havering, who made his will 1640.

    Shakespeare's Family

    Mrs. C. C. Stopes

  • I suppose they see something in me, that they come and listen to me havering.

  • "The woman's havering," cried the Goodman of the house impatiently.

    The Scottish Fairy Book

    Elizabeth W. Grierson

  • King Henry, it appeared, had dealt with him at Havering in perfect frankness.

    Chivalry

    James Branch Cabell

British Dictionary definitions for havering

Havering

noun
  1. a borough of NE Greater London, formed in 1965 from Romford and Hornchurch (both previously in Essex). Pop: 224 600 (2003 est). Area: 120 sq km (46 sq miles)
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haver

verb (intr) British
  1. to dither
  2. Scot and Northern English dialect to talk nonsense; babble
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noun
  1. (usually plural) Scot nonsense
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Word Origin

C18: 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

Word Origin and History for havering

haver

n.1

"oats," Northern English, late 13c., probably from Old Norse hafre, from Proto-Germanic *habron- (cf. Old Norse hafri, Old Saxon havoro, Dutch haver, Old High German habaro, German Haber, Hafer). Buck suggests it is perhaps literally "goat-food" and compares Old Norse hafr "he-goat." "Haver is a common word in the northern countries for oats." [Johnson]

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haver

n.2

"owner, possessor," late 14c., agent noun from have.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper