Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Haw
Haw
(ha̤)
, Noun.
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
,Noun.
[Etymol. uncertain.]
(Anat.)
The third eyelid, or nictitating membrane. See
Nictitating membrane
, under Nictitate
. Haw
,Noun.
[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
,Verb.
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
,Verb.
I.
[
imp. & p. p.
Hawed
(ha̤d)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Hawing
.] [Written also
hoi
.] [Perhaps connected with
here
, hither
; cf., however, F. huhau
, hurhau
, hue
, interj. used in turning a horse to the right, G. hott
, hü
, 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
,Verb.
T.
To cause to turn, as a team, to the near side, or toward the driver;
as, to
. haw
a team of oxenTo 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.]
Webster 1828 Edition
Haw
HAW
, n.1.
The berry and seed of the hawthorn, that is, hedge-thorn.2.
A small piece of ground adjoining a house; a small field; properly, an inclosed piece of land, from hedge, like garden, which also signifies an inclosure.3.
In farriery, an excrescence resembling a gristle, growing under the nether eyelid and eye of a horse.4.
A dale.HAW
,Verb.
I.