HAW


Meaning of HAW in English

I. ˈhȯ noun

Etymology: Middle English hawe, from Old English haga — more at hedge

Date: before 12th century

1. : a hawthorn berry

2. : hawthorn

II. noun

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: 15th century

: nictitating membrane ; especially : an inflamed nictitating membrane of a domesticated mammal

III. interjection

Date: 1600

— often used to indicate a vocalized pause in speaking

IV. intransitive verb

Etymology: imitative

Date: 1632

1. : to utter the sound represented by haw

hemmed and haw ed before answering

2. : equivocate

the administration hemmed and haw ed over the students' demands

V. verb

Etymology: origin unknown

Date: 1777

verb imperative

— used as a direction to turn to the left; compare gee

intransitive verb

: to turn to the near or left side

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.