CIDE DICTIONARY
, n. Array
An intermission or hesitation of speech, with a sound somewhat like haw! also, the sound so made. Congreve. [1913 Webster]
, v. i.
To stop, in speaking, with a sound like haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation. [1913 Webster]
hemming and hawing speaking hesitantly and inarticulately, with numerous pauses and interjections.
, v. i. Array
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.]
, v. t.
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.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
, n. the hawthorn or its fruit.
, n. the nictitating membrane of a horse, dog, etc., esp. when inflamed.
, int. & v.
--int. expressing hesitation.
--v.intr. (in hum and haw: see HUM(1))
imit.: cf. HA
THESAURUS
avert, bear off, draw aside, ease off, edge off, falter, fly off, gee, glance, glance off, go off, halt, head off, hem, hem and
haw, hesitate, hum, hum and
haw, jib, make way for, mammer, move aside, sheer off, shove aside, shunt, shy, shy off, side, sidestep, sidetrack, sidle, stammer, steer clear of, step aside, stumble, stutter, switch, turn aside, turn away, turn back, veer off
ROGET THESAURUS
Stammering
VB
stammer, stutter, hesitate, falter, hammer, balbutiate, balbucinate,
haw, hum and
haw, be unable to put two words together, mumble, mutter, maud, mauder, whisper, mince, lisp, jabber, gibber, sputter, splutter, muffle, mump, drawl, mouth, croak, speak thick, speak through the nose, snuffle, clip one's words, murder the language, murder the King's English, murder the Queen's English, mispronounce, missay.