haw (redirected from hawing)

haw ¹  (hô)

n.

An utterance used by a speaker who is fumbling for words.

intr.v. hawed, haw·ing, haws

To fumble in speaking.

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[Imitative.]

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haw ²  (hô)

n.

1. The fruit of a hawthorn.

2. A hawthorn or similar tree or shrub.

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[Middle English, from Old English haga.]

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haw ³  (hô)

n.

1. A nictitating membrane, especially of a domesticated animal.

2. An inflamed condition of this membrane.

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[Origin unknown.]

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haw ⁴  (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.

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haw ¹

Noun

the fruit of the hawthorn [Old English haga]

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haw ²

Verb

hum or hem and haw to hesitate in speaking [imitative]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	haw - a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus hawthorn Crataegus, genus Crataegus - thorny shrubs and small trees: hawthorn; thorn; thorn apple Crataegus apiifolia, Crataegus marshallii, parsley haw, parsley-leaved thorn - southern United States hawthorn with pinnately lobed leaves Crataegus biltmoreana, scarlet haw - common shrub or small tree of the eastern United States having few thorns and white flowers in corymbs followed by bright orange-red berries Crataegus calpodendron, Crataegus tomentosa, pear haw, pear hawthorn, blackthorn - erect and almost thornless American hawthorn with somewhat pear-shaped berries cockspur hawthorn, cockspur thorn, Crataegus crus-galli - eastern United States hawthorn with long straight thorns Crataegus aestivalis, mayhaw, summer haw - hawthorn of southern United States bearing a juicy, acidic, scarlet fruit that is often used in jellies or preserves Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus oxycantha, whitethorn, English hawthorn, may - thorny Eurasian shrub of small tree having dense clusters of white to scarlet flowers followed by deep red berries; established as an escape in eastern North America Crataegus monogyna, English hawthorn - European hawthorn having deeply cleft leaves and bright red fruits; widely cultivated in many varieties and often grown as impenetrable hedges; established as an escape in eastern North America Crataegus coccinea mollis, Crataegus mollis, downy haw, red haw - American red-fruited hawthorn with stems and leaves densely covered with short woolly hairs Crataegus oxyacantha, evergreen thorn - evergreen hawthorn of southeastern Europe Crataegus coccinea, Crataegus pedicellata, red haw - American red-fruited hawthorn with dense corymbs of pink-red flowers bush, shrub - a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems
	2.	haw - the nictitating membrane of a horse nictitating membrane, third eyelid - a protective fold of skin in the eyes of reptiles and birds and some mammals
Verb	1.	haw - utter `haw'; "he hemmed and hawed" let loose, let out, utter, emit - express audibly; utter sounds (not necessarily words); "She let out a big heavy sigh"; "He uttered strange sounds that nobody could understand"