Haw , v. t. To cause to turn, as a team, to the near side, or
toward the driver; as, to
haw a team of oxen.
To 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.]
Haw , v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hawed (h&add;d);
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 , v. 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 , n. [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 , n. [Etymol. uncertain.]
(Anat.) The third eyelid, or nictitating membrane. See Nictitating membrane, under Nictitate.
Haw (h&add;),
n. [OE. hawe, AS. haga; akin to D. haag headge, G. hag, hecke, Icel.
hagi pasture, Sw. hage, Dan. have garden. √12. Cf. Haggard, Ha-ha, Haugh, Hedge.]
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.
Hear it pronounced