Havering

[ hey-ver-ing ]

/ ˈheɪ vər ɪŋ /

noun

a borough of Greater London, England.

Definition for havering (2 of 2)

haver

[ hey-ver ]

/ ˈheɪ vər /

verb (used without object) Chiefly British.

to equivocate; vacillate.

Origin of haver

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for havering

Mr. Veley also mentions a Joseph Shakespeare of Havering, who made his will 1640.
Shakespeare's Family|Mrs. C. C. Stopes
The Queen removed to Havering, which lay midway between her two armies.
Clare Avery|Emily Sarah Holt
Havering bore “Silver a lion rampant gules with a forked tail, having a collar azure.”
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 3|Various
Do ye think I'll e'er gae back to that havering, daunering cuif o' a creature, the Crail bailie?
Ringan Gilhaize|John Galt

This plan has been grasped by them, and agreed to after nearly two months havering.
The Matabele Campaign|R. S. S. Baden-Powell

British Dictionary definitions for havering (1 of 2)

Havering

/ (ˈheɪvərɪŋ) /

noun

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)

British Dictionary definitions for havering (2 of 2)

haver

/ (ˈheɪvə) /

verb (intr) British

to dither

Scot and Northern English dialect to talk nonsense; babble

noun

(usually plural) Scot nonsense

Word Origin for haver

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 (1 of 2)

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]

Word Origin and History for havering (1 of 2)

haver

n.2

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