haw

- 18 dictionary results

haw

1 [haw]

–verb (used without object)

1.	to utter a sound representing a hesitation or pause in speech.

–noun

2.	a sound or pause of hesitation. Compare hem ² (def. 3).

Origin:
1625–35; imit.

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 object), verb (used without object)

2.	to turn or make a turn to the left: The horse refused to haw.

Compare gee ¹ .

Origin:
1835–45, Americanism; appar. orig. the impv. haw! look! of ME hawen, OE hāwian; akin to L cavēre to beware

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.

Origin:
before 1000; ME; OE haga, presumably identical with haga hedge, fence; cf. hawthorn

haw

4 [haw]

–noun

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

Origin:
1515–1525; orig. uncert.

Haw.

Hawaii.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To haw

haw¹ (hô)

n. An utterance used by a speaker who is fumbling for words.
intr.v. hawed, haw·ing, haws
To fumble in speaking.

[Imitative.]

haw² (hô)

The fruit of a hawthorn.
A hawthorn or similar tree or shrub.

[Middle English, from Old English haga.]

haw³ (hô)

A nictitating membrane, especially of a domesticated animal.
An inflamed condition of this membrane.

[Origin unknown.]

haw⁴ (hô)

interj. Used to command an animal pulling a load to turn to the left.
intr.v. hawed, haw·ing, haws
To turn to the left.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Haw

Haw\, n. [OE. hawe, AS. haga; akin to D. haag headge, G. hag, hecke, Icel. hagi pasture, Sw. hage, Dan. have garden. ???. Cf. Haggard, Ha-ha, Haugh, Hedge.]

1. A hedge; an inclosed garden or yard.

And eke there was a polecat in his haw. --Chaucer.

2. The fruit of the hawthorn. --Bacon.

Haw

Haw\, n. [Etymol. uncertain.] (Anat.) The third eyelid, or nictitating membrane. See Nictitating membrane, under Nictitate.

Haw

Haw\, n. [Cf. ha an interjection of wonder, surprise, or hesitation.] An intermission or hesitation of speech, with a sound somewhat like haw! also, the sound so made. "Hums or haws." --Congreve.

Haw

Haw\, v. i. To stop, in speaking, with a sound like haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation.

Cut it short; don't prose -- don't hum and haw. --Chesterfield.

Haw

Haw\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Hawing.] [Written also hoi.] [Perhaps connected with here, hither; cf., however, F. huhau, hue, interj. used in turning a horse to the right, G. hott, h["u], interj. used in calling to a horse.] To turn to the near side, or toward the driver; -- said of cattle or a team: a word used by teamsters in guiding their teams, and most frequently in the imperative. See Gee.

To haw and gee, or To haw and gee about, to go from one thing to another without good reason; to have no settled purpose; to be irresolute or unstable. [Colloq.]

Haw

Haw\, v. t. To cause to turn, as a team, to the near side, or toward the driver; as, to haw a team of oxen.

To haw and gee, or To haw and gee about, to lead this way and that at will; to lead by the nose; to master or control. [Colloq.]

haw

"enclosure," O.E. haga "enclosure, hedge," from P.Gmc. *khag- (cf. O.N. hagi, O.S. hago, M.Du. hage, Du. haag, as in the city name The Hague). See hag and hedge. Meaning "fruit of the hawthorn bush" (O.E.) is perhaps short for *hægberie.

Main Entry: haw
Pronunciation: 'ho
Function: noun
: NICTITATINGMEMBRANE; especially : an inflamed nictitating membrane of a domesticated mammal

haw

see hem and haw.

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