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 (hôd); 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 (hô), 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.