noun
haw
haw
noun
1
The small red fruit of the hawthorn tree.
"Birds strip the hedgerow of haws by late autumn."
intj
1
A hesitating sound made while speaking, often paired as "hem and haw."
"He hemmed and hawed before finally answering."
2
A command given to a horse or other draft animal to turn left.
"The driver called "haw!" and the oxen swung left."
How to Use Haw
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMainly the berry of the hawthorn bush, or a hesitating sound (as in "hem and haw").
Common pairings
hem and haw
hawthorn haws
Word Forms
hawed past tense, hawed past tense, haws plural, haws plural, Haws plural, haws singular, haws singular
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Birds strip the hedgerow of _____ by late autumn.
Etymology
The fruit sense comes from Old English haga, related to "hedge"; the hesitation sound and turn command are separate, older interjections imitating natural sounds.