haw
C2Literary, Regional, Technical (specific senses)
Definition
Meaning
A hesitation sound; an expression of hesitation or uncertainty.
The fruit of a hawthorn; the command "to turn left" given to a draft animal or dog (especially in combination with 'gee' for right).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The hesitation meaning is onomatopoeic. The fruit meaning is from Old English 'haga' (hedge, enclosure). The command meaning is of uncertain origin but has been in use since the 18th century.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The fruit meaning (hawthorn berry) is more common in British English. The command sense ('haw' and 'gee') is historically associated with North American farming and dog sledding.
Connotations
The hesitation 'haw' often implies indecisiveness or stalling for time. The fruit 'haw' is neutral and botanical. The command 'haw' is rural or historical.
Frequency
All senses are low frequency in modern usage. The hesitation sense appears mostly in written dialogue or literary contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
He [VERB: haw] (no object, often with hesitation).The dog [VERB: haw] (responding to command).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hem and haw (to hesitate or be indecisive)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Unused. Hesitation is seen as weakness in business contexts.
Academic
Rare. May appear in literary analysis or historical texts on agriculture.
Everyday
Very rare. 'Hem and haw' as a fixed idiom might be used.
Technical
Used in historical contexts of animal husbandry or dog training.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He hawed for a moment before answering the difficult question.
- The old farmer would haw the oxen to guide the plough.
American English
- The senator hemmed and hawed during the press conference.
- 'Haw!' she commanded, and the sled dog team turned sharply left.
adverb
British English
- (Not commonly used as adverb)
- (Not commonly used as adverb)
American English
- (Not commonly used as adverb)
- (Not commonly used as adverb)
adjective
British English
- The haw harvest was poor this year.
- (Not commonly used as adjective)
American English
- (Not commonly used as adjective)
- (Not commonly used as adjective)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The child said 'haw' when he forgot the word.
- Don't just haw and hum; tell me what you really think.
- The politician's constant hemming and hawing eroded the public's trust.
- In traditional mushing, 'haw' and 'gee' are essential directional commands for the lead dog.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a horse saying 'HAW' when told to turn LEFT, because LEFT sounds a bit like 'heh...aw...' – hesitant!
Conceptual Metaphor
INDECISION IS STUTTERING OR WANDERING (hemming and hawing, haw-ing instead of gee-ing).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'hawk' (ястреб).
- The command 'haw' has no direct Russian equivalent; it's a specific training command.
- The fruit 'haw' is not common; use 'боярышник (плод)'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'haw' as a common verb for hesitation in formal writing.
- Confusing 'haw' (turn left) with 'gee' (turn right).
- Misspelling 'haw' as 'ha' or 'hah'.
Practice
Quiz
In the context of dog sledding, 'haw' means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is both. As an onomatopoeic interjection or verb, it represents the sound of hesitation. It also has separate meanings as a noun (for a hawthorn berry) and a command.
Use the idiom 'hem and haw' to describe someone being evasive, indecisive, or stalling for time, especially in speech. It's slightly informal.
Its primary use is historical or in specific niche activities like competitive dog sledding or historical reenactment. It is not part of everyday modern vocabulary.
Both 'hem' and 'haw' represent sounds of hesitation or clearing the throat. They are almost exclusively used together in the fixed idiom 'hem and haw' to mean indecision.