CIDE DICTIONARY
haw,
n. [OE.
hawe, AS.
haga; akin to D.
haag headge, G.
hag,
hecke, Icel.
hagi pasture, Sw.
hage, Dan.
have garden.
Haggard, Ha-ha, Haugh, Hedge.].
haw, n. [Etymol. uncertain.].
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. Congreve. [1913 Webster]
haw, v. i.
To stop, in speaking, with a sound like
haw; to speak with interruption and hesitation. [
1913 Webster]
"Cut it short; don't prose -- don't hum and haw."
[1913 Webster]
hemming and hawing speaking hesitantly and inarticulately, with numerous pauses and interjections.
haw, v. i. [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 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. t.
To cause to turn, as a team, to the near side, or toward the driver; as, to haw a team of oxen. [1913 Webster]
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
haw, n. the hawthorn or its fruit.
haw, n. the nictitating membrane of a horse, dog, etc., esp. when inflamed.
haw, int. & v.
--int. expressing hesitation.
--v.intr. (in hum and haw: see HUM(1))
imit.: cf. HA
THESAURUS
haw
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
haw
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.