† hawn.1
/hɔː/, U.S. /hɔ/, /hɑ/ Obsolete exc. Historical.
a. A hedge or encompassing fence (Old English); hence, a piece of ground enclosed or fenced in; a messuage (Old English); generally, a yard, close, or enclosure, as in timber-haw. See also church haw n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > enclosing or enclosure > [noun] > an enclosed space or place > an enclosed piece of ground
hawc825
towneOE
purprisea1275
hainc1275
wick1301
cerne1393
firmancea1522
haining1535
haya1640
pena1640
park1658
c825 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 70/15 Sepis, haga.
OE Beowulf 2892 Heht ða þæt heaðoweorc to hagan biodan.
1044 in Kemble Cod. Dipl. IV. 86 Se haga binnan port þe Ægebric himsylfan getimbrod hæfde.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 585 Wane þu comest to manne haȝe, Þar þornes boþ and ris i-draȝe.
a1250 Owl & Nightingale 1612 Heo hongeþ me on heore hahe.
c1386 G. Chaucer Pardoner's Tale 527 Ther was a polcat in his hawe, That..hise capons hadde yslawe.
1442 in R. Willis & J. W. Clark Archit. Hist. Univ. Cambr. (1886) I. 387 For cariage of xxxj lodes of lome..in to the tembre haw.
1457 in R. Arnold Chron. (c1503) f. xxv/2 Wharfes kranes tymbre hawes.
1594 J. Norden Speculi Brit. Pars: Essex (1840) 10 Certayne ladinges..wher they take in wood..which places are called vpon the Thames, westward, haws or woodwharves.
1674 J. Ray S. & E. Countrey Words in Coll. Eng. Words 68 A Haw, (Kent.) a close.
1704 Dict. Rusticum Haw..a Close of Land, lying near a House.
1860 All Year Round 6 Oct. 614 St. Mary, called Wool-church, because in its haw or churchyard is the beam whereby wool is appointed to be weighed.
b. transferred.
ΚΠ
c1430 Hymns Virg. (1867) 121 Then wolle the see wytdrawe, And wend to hys owyn hawe.
c. attributive, as haw-yard.
ΚΠ
1657 J. Howell Londinopolis 58 A great Haw-yard, or garden, of old time called Coleman Haw.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
hawn.2
/hɔː/, U.S. /hɔ/, /hɑ/ 1. The fruit of the hawthorn.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorny berry-bush > [noun] > hawthorn and allies > fruit of
hawa1000
red haw1717
thornberry1766
peggle1826
pixie-pear1865
the world > food and drink > food > fruit and vegetables > fruit or a fruit > stone fruit > [noun] > haw
hawa1000
a1000 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 204/20 Cinum, hagan.
13.. K. Alis. 4983 Other mete thai ne habben Bot hawen, hepen, slon, and rabben.
c1374 G. Chaucer Former Age 7 They eten mast hawes and swyche pownage.
1483 Cath. Angl. 179/1 An Hawghe, cinum.
1555 R. Eden tr. Peter Martyr of Angleria Decades of Newe Worlde ii. x. f. 87 He eate none other meate but only berryes and hawes.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §737 Stores of Haws and Heps do commonly portend cold Winters.
1785 W. Cowper Task i. 120 I fed on scarlet hips and stony haws.
1883 F. M. Peard Contradictions xxxii The old thorns..ruddy with a wealth of haws.
1883 W. H. Cope Gloss. Hampshire Words Hag, a haw, or berry of the hawthorn.
1883 T. Lees Easther's Gloss. Dial. Almondbury & Huddersfield Haghe, or Haigh, the haw.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > importance > unimportance > [noun] > that which is unimportant > worthless
hawc1000
turdc1275
fille1297
dusta1300
lead1303
skitc1330
naught1340
vanityc1340
wrakea1350
rushc1350
dirt1357
fly's wing1377
goose-wing1377
fartc1390
chaff?a1400
nutshella1400
shalec1400
yardc1400
wrack1472
pelfrya1529
trasha1529
dreg1531
trish-trash1542
alchemy1547
beggary?1548
rubbish1548
pelfa1555
chip1556
stark naught1562
paltry?1566
rubbish1566
riff-raff1570
bran1574
baggage1579
nihil1579
trush-trash1582
stubblea1591
tartar1590
garbage1592
bag of winda1599
a cracked or slit groat1600
kitchen stuff1600
tilta1603
nothing?1608
bauble1609
countera1616
a pair of Yorkshire sleeves in a goldsmith's shop1620
buttermilk1630
dross1632
paltrement1641
cattle1643
bagatelle1647
nothingness1652
brimborion1653
stuff1670
flap-dragon1700
mud1706
caput mortuuma1711
snuff1778
twaddle1786
powder-post1790
traffic1828
junk1836
duffer1852
shice1859
punk1869
hogwash1870
cagmag1875
shit1890
tosh1892
tripe1895
dreck1905
schlock1906
cannon fodder1917
shite1928
skunk1929
crut1937
chickenshit1938
crud1943
Mickey Mouse1958
gick1959
garbo1978
turd1978
pants1994
c1000 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 138/39 Gignalia, hagan.
a1100 in T. Wright & R. P. Wülcker Anglo-Saxon & Old Eng. Vocab. (1884) I. 269/5 Quisquilia, hagan.
1297 R. Gloucester's Chron. (1724) 524 Al nas wurth an hawe.
c1340 Hampole in Relig. Pieces fr. Thornton MS. (1867) 81 No latyn ne lawe may helpe an hawe.
c1386 G. Chaucer Wife of Bath's Prol. 659 I sette noght an haw Of his proverbes.
c1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 99 Of suche fresch lustes set not an hawe.
1593 Jack Straw ii, in W. C. Hazlitt Dodsley's Sel. Coll. Old Eng. Plays (1874) V. 394 We'll not leave a man of law, Nor a paper worth a haw.
3. The hawthorn, Cratægus Oxyacantha. (Also applied with qualifying words to other species of Cratægus, or other similar shrubs.)
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > particular plants > trees and shrubs > thorny berry-bush > [noun] > hawthorn and allies
hawthorna700
hawthorn-treec1290
whitethorna1300
haw-treec1325
albespyne?a1425
thorn-tree1483
mespilus1548
may-branch1560
quickthorn1571
hedge-bush1576
busket1579
May-bush1579
Neapolitan medlar1597
azarole1658
pyracanth1664
white bush1676
Glastonbury thorna1697
quick1727
evergreen thorn1731
blackthorn1737
whitethorn1788
oriental medlar1797
haw1821
May-haw1840
Maythorn1844
May1848
pear thorn1848
pink thorn1852
aronia thorn1882
scarlet thorn1882
black haw1897
1557 Earl of Surrey et al. Songes & Sonettes (new ed.) f. 107v The testament of the hawthorne. I Sely Haw whose hope is past.]
1821 Col. Trimble in Open Court (U.S.A.) XI. 244 Clearing away the haw, dogwood, and pawpaws.
1850 Ld. Tennyson In Memoriam xcviii. 150 Hoary knoll of ash and haw . View more context for this quotation
1851 H. W. Longfellow Golden Legend iv. 163 Sweet is the air with the budding haws.
1884 W. Miller Dict. Eng. Names Plants Haw,..Black, Viburnum prunifolium. May, or Apple, Cratægus æstivalis. Summer, Cratægus flava.
ΘΚΠ
the world > plants > part of plant > head or heart > [noun] > head or ear of grass
haw1601
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 145 Wild Otes..beareth in the haw or head certain grains hanging down, which resemble small locusts.
1601 P. Holland tr. Pliny Hist. World II. 235 Then the haw or eare that it beareth, ought to be taken away.
a1825 R. Forby Vocab. E. Anglia (1830) Haw, the ear of oats.
Compounds
C1. attributive, as haw-berry, haw-blossom;
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1790 Coll. Voy. round World V. xi. 1787 We saw some currant, and hawberry bushes.
C2.
haw-grosbeak n. the hawfinch (hawfinch n.).
ΚΠ
1838 Penny Cycl. XII. 67/1 Hawfinch. Haw Grosbeak, Grosbeak of the modern British.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
hawn.3
a. The nictitating membrane or ‘third eyelid’ of a horse, dog, etc., being a triangular cartilage lying just within the inner corner of the eye, which is capable of expansion, so as to sweep dust, etc. from the eyeball. The haw is liable to inflammation and temporary enlargement, and it was to this affected form, which the old farriers considered an ‘excrescence,’ that they usually applied the name.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > head and neck > [noun] > third or inner eyelid
haw?1523
nictating membrane1678
nictitating membrane1713
third eyelid1822
the world > animals > birds > parts of or bird defined by > [noun] > eye > part of
haw?1523
periophthalmium1691
pecten1713
marsupium1795
Harderian gland1822
sclerotal1854
winker1884
?1523 J. Fitzherbert Bk. Husbandry f. xxxiiv The hawe is a sorance in a horse eye, and is lyke a grystell and may be well cut out or els it woll haue out his eye.
1587 L. Mascall Bk. Cattell (1661) ii. 131 The haw in the eye of the horse is a little white and hard gristle in the inner corner of the eye, and it will grow.
1737 H. Bracken Farriery Improved xvii. 240 I take what the Farriers call the Haws, to proceed from a long and continued Defluction of Rheum upon the Eye.
1829 Nat. Philos. (Libr. Useful Knowl.) I. Prelim. Treat. 30 A third eyelid..in the horse..called the haw; it is moistened with a pulpy substance..to take hold of the dust on the eyeball, and wipe it clean off.
1831 W. Youatt Horse vi. 88 The old farriers strangely misunderstood the nature and design of the haw.
1880 Times 5 June 6/5 A chief point in bloodhounds was the appearance and quality of the ‘haw’.
1893 H. Dalziel Dis. Dogs (ed. 3) 62 Haw, Enlargement of.—This membrane..sometimes becomes inflamed and enlarged, interfering with the sight and preventing the eyelids from closing.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > ill health > a disease > disorders of eye > [noun] > growth or ulcer
ungulac1400
nailc1425
haw?1550
pterygium1562
aegilops1578
ungle1583
encanthis1616
argema1661
unguis1684
phlyctenule1819
pinguecula1850
c1450 Middle Eng. Med. Bk. (Heinrich) 98 A charme for þe hawe in þe ye.
?1550 H. Llwyd tr. Pope John XXI Treasury of Healthe (1585) F ij The joyce of the Lyly rote put into thy eye taketh awaye the hawe.
1684 London Gaz. No. 1915/4 Joshua Bugge, Aged 15 years..having a Haw or Speck on his left Eye.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
hawadj.
Obsolete exc. Scottish. † a. Blue, azure; bluish, grayish- or greenish-blue; of a dull leaden blue. Obsolete.
ΚΠ
a700 Epinal Gloss. 221 C(a)erula, haeuui [Erf. haui].
c725 Corpus Gloss. 444 C(a)erula, heawi.
c725 Corpus Gloss. 981 Glaucum, heauui, grei.
c1420 Anturs of Arth. ii Hur hud of a haa hew.
a1505 R. Henryson Test. Cresseid 257 in Poems (1981) 119 Haw as the leid, of colour nathing cleir.
1513 G. Douglas tr. Virgil Æneid iii. i. 121 Crownit with garlandis all of haw see hewis.
16.. Sir P. Spens in F. J. Child Eng. & Sc. Pop. Ballads (1885) II. iii. lviii. 28/2 He saw the green haw sea.
b. Discoloured, livid. Scottish.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > colour > named colours > blue or blueness > [adjective] > livid
wanc700
blaea1325
bloa1325
bluec1390
livid?a1425
lividous1598
haw1768
blue in the face1792
1768 A. Ross Fortunate Shepherdess 23 (Jam.) Twa shepherds out of breath..and as haw as death.
1785 Select Coll. Poems Buchan Dial. 8 (Jam.) He look'd sae haave as gin a dwam Had just o'ercast his heart.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online December 2020).
hawv.1
intransitive. To utter ‘haw!’ as an expression of hesitation. Usually in the collocation hum (hem) and haw: see to hum and haw at hum v.1 2c.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > defective or inarticulate speech > speak inarticulately or with a defect [verb (intransitive)] > stammer or speak hesitantly
stammerc1000
wlaffe1025
stotec1325
humc1374
mafflea1387
stut1388
rattlea1398
famble14..
mammera1425
drotec1440
falterc1440
stackerc1440
hem1470
wallowa1475
tattle1481
mant1506
happer1519
trip1526
hobblea1529
hack1553
stagger1565
faffle1570
stutter1570
hem and hawk1588
ha1604
hammer1619
titubate1623
haw1632
fork1652
hacker1652
lispc1680
hesitate1706
balbutiate1731
haffle1790
hotter1828
stutter1831
ah1853
catch1889
1632 P. Massinger & N. Field Fatall Dowry iv. sig. H4 Nov. Ha? Bella. D'ee stand Humming and hawing now?
1739 Joe Miller's Jests cxiii The Fellow was loath to speak, but humm'd and haw'd for a good Space.
1748 S. Richardson Clarissa VI. lxxvii. 281 Such an humming and hawing caitiff.
1814 L. Hunt Feast of Poets 11 A whole court of Aldermen hawing and humming.
1884 W. C. Smith Kildrostan 62 Public meetings where no heart is, And a chairman haws and hums.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online September 2018).
hawv.2
U.S. (but English dialect in quot. 1911).
a. intransitive. Of a horse or team: to turn to the left. Also figurative (see quot. 1864).
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > mammals > group Ungulata (hoofed) > family Equidae (general equines) > horse defined by purpose used for > [verb (intransitive)] > walk or turn (of draught horse(s)
quartera1731
haw1846
1846 Knickerbocker 27 119 The plough-boy has hardly energy to cry out..‘Gee-haw, there, I tell you to haw, now.’
1861 Trans. Illinois State Agric. Soc. 1859–60 4 99 They were required to plow lands of about fifteen rods in length, and ‘haw’ about.
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) To haw and gee, or 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.)
1911 J. Masefield Everlasting Mercy 86 Now and then he seems to stoop To clear the coulter with the scoop, Or touch an ox to haw or gee.
b. transitive. To direct (a horse, etc.) to turn to the left. Also figurative.
ΚΠ
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) To haw and gee, or haw and gee about, to lead this way and that at will; to lead by the nose; to master or control. (Colloq.)
1867 ‘T. Lackland’ Homespun iii. 286 The man..is turning up the sod with the gleaming share..while he ‘gees’ and ‘haws’ the yoke of cattle.
Derivatives
hawing n.
ΚΠ
1843 ‘R. Carlton’ New Purchase I. xvi. 119 After performing wonders on the journey from Philadelphia to the West, in hawing and geeing.
1867 ‘T. Lackland’ Homespun ii. 194 The regiment is somehow got back, by hawing and geeing, into line.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
hawint.1n.4
An utterance marking hesitation: cf. ha int. 3. Usually in collocation with hum. See also haw-haw v.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > speech > defective or inarticulate speech > utterance expressing hesitation [interjection]
hum1598
ha1609
haw1679
ahem1763
haw-haw1834
h'm1854
uh1962
1679 Hist. Somervilles in Ann. Lesmahagow (1864) 73 She had a little haugh in her speech.
a1680 S. Butler Genuine Remains (1759) I. 180 His frequent and pathetic hums and haws.
1720 W. Congreve Imposs. Thing 4 If thro' any Hums or Haws There haps an intervening Pause.
1886 Pall Mall Gaz. 27 Aug. 14/1 Pauses filled by a prolonged ‘haw’.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1898; most recently modified version published online March 2018).
hawint.2n.5
dialect and U.S.
A call used to direct a horse or team to turn to the left.
ΚΠ
1843 Knickerbocker 21 494 He admonishes them with his goad, and ejaculates, ‘Haw’.
1843 ‘R. Carlton’ New Purchase I. xxvi. 239 Whoas, gees and haws.
1856 J. C. Morton Cycl. Agric. (new ed.) II. (Gloss.) 723/2 Horses—terms used in directing—... Cheshire... To left. Haw.
1864 Webster's Amer. Dict. Eng. Lang. (at cited word) Haw, haw here;—words used by teamsters in guiding their teams.
1930 Amer. Speech 5 419 Haw, direction given to oxen to turn to the left.
1972 Evening Telegram (St. John's, Newfoundland) 24 June 14/3 ‘Gee’ tells the dogs to take a right turn, and ‘Haw’ means left.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1c825
n.2a1000
n.3c1450
adj.a700v.11632v.21843int.1n.41679
int.2n.51843