noun
haw
haw
Haw (noun) means the small red fruit of the hawthorn tree. Example: “Birds strip the hedgerow of haws by late autumn.”
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
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Word forms
- Plural
- haws
- Third person singular
- haws
- Past tense
- hawed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for haw
See all rhymes for haw →Frequently asked questions
What does “haw” mean?
The word “haw” means the small red fruit of the hawthorn tree. In plain terms, mainly the berry of the hawthorn bush, or a hesitating sound (as in "hem and haw").
How do you pronounce “haw”?
“Haw” is pronounced haw (/hɔː/ in IPA).
How do you use “haw” in a sentence?
Here is “haw” used in a sentence: “Birds strip the hedgerow of haws by late autumn.”
What part of speech is “haw”?
Depending on how it is used, “haw” can be a noun and an intj.
Where does the word “haw” come from?
The word “haw” comes from Old English. The fruit sense comes from Old English haga, related to "hedge"; the hesitation sound and turn command are separate, older interjections imitating natural sounds.
How many meanings does “haw” have?
“Haw” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the small red fruit of the hawthorn tree.
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