Definition

1. Noun:

   • The nictitating membrane of a horse: A transparent third eyelid in some animals, especially horses.
   • A spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus: A type of thorny shrub or tree, also known as a hawthorn, which produces small, red fruit called haws.

2. Verb:

   • To utter the sound 'haw': To make a hesitant or inarticulate sound, often as part of a pause in speech indicating indecision.
   • To hesitate in speaking: To speak with pauses or filler sounds like 'haw' due to uncertainty.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Animal Anatomy):
• Noun (Plant):
• Verb (Speech):

Advanced Usage

• "To hem and haw": This is a fixed idiom meaning to hesitate, delay, or speak evasively, often by making sounds like 'hem' and 'haw'.

Variants and Related Words

• Hawthorn (n): The full name for the shrub or tree.
• Haw (n): Can also refer specifically to the fruit of the hawthorn.

Synonyms

• Hesitate (v): To pause before saying or doing something.
• Falter (v): To speak hesitatingly.
• Hawthorn (n): For the plant sense.

Related Phrases

• Hem and haw (idiom): To be hesitant and indecisive in speech.

Noun

1. the nictitating membrane of a horse
2. a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus

Verb

1. utter `haw'
   • he hemmed and hawed