haw
/hɔː/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.10 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
3
Letters
1
Syllables
3
Unique Chars
Meaning
intj
An imitation of laughter, often used to express scorn or disbelief. Often doubled or tripled (haw haw or haw haw haw).
intj
An intermission or hesitation of speech, with a sound somewhat like "haw"; the sound so made.
verb
To stop, in speaking, with a sound like haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation.
noun
A hedge.
verb
To turn towards the driver, typically to the left.
Example Sentences
- "You think that song was good? Haw!"
- "The bitter laugh laughs at that which is not good, it is the ethical laugh. The hollow laugh laughs at that which is not true, it is the intellectual laugh. Not good! Not true! Well well. But the mirthless laugh is the dianoetic laugh, down the snout — Haw! — so."
- "Hums or haws."
- "The kanary-nut may be considered equal to a hazel-nut, but I have met with nothing else superior to our crabs, our haws, beech-nuts, wild plums, and acorns; fruits which would be highly esteemed by the natives of these islands, and would form an important part of their sustenance."
- "wele not leaue a man of lawe, Nor a paper worth a hawe, And make him worſe than a dawe, That ſhall ſtand againſt Iacke Strawe."
- "This horse won't haw when I tell him to."
Etymology
From Middle English ha (interjection). Compare Old Norse há (interjection), Middle Low German ha, hā (interjection), Old High German aha, hei (interjection).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /hɔː/
- British English: /hɔː/