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View synonyms for haw

haw

1

[ haw ]

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 hem 2( def 3 ).

haw

2

[ 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.

haw

3

[ haw ]

noun

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

haw

4

[ haw ]

noun

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

Haw.

5

abbreviation for

  1. Hawaii.

haw

1

/ hɔː /

noun

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


verb

  1. intr to make this sound
  2. hem and haw or hum and haw
    See hem 2
“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

haw

2

/ hɔː /

noun

  1. archaic.
    a yard or close
“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

haw

3

/ hɔː /

noun

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

haw

4

/ 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
“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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of haw1

First recorded in 1625–35; imitative

Origin of haw2

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”

Origin of haw3

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

Origin of haw4

First recorded in 1515–1525; origin uncertain
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Word History and Origins

Origin of haw1

C17: of imitative origin

Origin of haw2

of unknown origin

Origin of haw3

C15: of unknown origin

Origin of haw4

Old English haga, identical with haga hedge ; related to Old Norse hagi pasture
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Idioms and Phrases

see hem and haw .
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Example Sentences

Not surprisingly, we also observed that those visiting the larger ski areas hemmed and hawed even more than usual about lift lines, parking, crowds, and limited amenities.

We hemmed and hawed endlessly about how to approach our new neighbors about this.

Any senator interested in having a higher platform from which to attract attention can hem and haw over any picayune vote to their heart’s content.

If I could sum it up in a few choice words, I would, but instead I hem and haw, before stumbling through some rambling rejoinder.

They back away and hem and haw and leave it to the lower courts to implement their decisions.

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

The Irish title of the letter a or haw is alif, as also is the Arabian: the Greek alpha is either alpa or alfa.

This seemed a good joke, and they all howled and haw-hawed gleefully.

Why do these—these people at the fort hem and haw and hesitate when they speak about him?

He looked like an animated drying-post, and the Dutch boy, in spite of his troubles, began to haw-haw wildly.

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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

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