HAWING

Verb

hawing

present participle of haw

Noun

hawing (plural hawings)

The act of saying "haw", in intermission or hesitation of speech.

Source: Wiktionary

HAW

Haw, n. Etym: [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.]

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.

Haw, n. Etym: [Etymol. uncertain.] (Anat.)

Definition: The third eyelid, or nictitating membrane. See Nictitating membrane, under Nictitate.

Haw, n. Etym: [Cf. ha an interjection of wonder, surprise, or hesitation.]

Definition: An intermission or hesitation of speech, with a sound somewhat like haw! also, the sound so made. "Hums or haws." Congreve.

Haw, v. i.

Definition: 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, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Hawed; p. pr. & vb. n. Hawing.] Etym: [Written also hoi.] Etym: [Perhaps connected with here, hither; cf., however, F. huhau, hue, interj. used in turning a horse to the right, G. hott, hü, interj. used in calling to a horse.]

Definition: 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. t.

Definition: 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.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition