haw
To stop, in speaking, with a sound like hawTo stop, in speaking, with a sound like haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation.
Meaning
3 sensesTo stop, in speaking, with a sound like haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation.
To turn towards the driver, typically to the left.
This horse won't haw when I tell him to.
To cause (an animal) to turn left.
You may have to go to the front of the pack and physically haw the lead dog.
- utter ‘haw’
Examples
8 sentencesStop hemming and hawing.
deHör auf rumzudrucksen! — Yorwba
Stop hemming and hawing around.
deHör auf rumzudrucksen! — Yorwba
Redwings have a clear preference for haws.
deDie Rotdrossel hat eine klare Vorliebe für Weißdornbeeren. — Adelpa
That's why he keeps pausing and hemming and hawing.
After a lot of hemming and hawing, Tom agreed to it.
Origin
From Middle English ha (interjection). Compare Old Norse há (interjection), Middle Low GerFrom Middle English ha (interjection). Compare Old Norse há (interjection), Middle Low German ha, hā (interjection), Old High German aha, hei (interjection).
Assumed to be interjectory, but compare Old English hawian (“to observe, look”)
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Forms
haws, hawing, hawed, hawedAntonyms
1 antonymsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle