haw
pronunciation
How to pronounce haw in British English:
UK [hɔ:]
How to pronounce haw in American English:
US [hɔ:]
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- Noun:
- a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus
- the nictitating membrane of a horse
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- Verb:
- utter `haw'
Word Origin
- haw (n.)
- "enclosure," Old English haga "enclosure, fortified enclosure; hedge," from Proto-Germanic *hag- (cognates: Old Norse hagi, Old Saxon hago, German Hag "hedge;" Middle Dutch hage, Dutch haag, as in the city name The Hague), from PIE root *kagh- "to catch seize; wickerwork fence" (see hedge (n.), and compare hag). Meaning "fruit of the hawthorn bush" (Old English) is perhaps short for *hægberie.
- haw (v.)
- "hesitate in speech," 1580s, imitative. Related: Hawed; hawing. The noun in this sense is from c. 1600. Haw-haw in reference to a style of affected upper class British enunciation is from 1841, imitative.
Example
- 1. Haw just hoped he was heading in the right direction .
- 2. Haw looked down the dark passageway and was aware of his fear .
- 3. Determination of chrysophanol in seman cassia and haw granules .
- 4. Sniff welcomed haw with a nod of his head , and scurry waved his paw .
- 5. As haw enjoyed the new cheese , he reflected on what he had learned .