hee-hau

Definition

1. Verb:
   • To bray (of a donkey): "hee-hau" is an onomatopoeic verb meaning to make the characteristic loud, harsh cry of a donkey.
   • To laugh loudly and raucously: "hee-hau" can also refer to laughing in a coarse, boisterous, or unrefined manner, similar to a donkey's bray.

Usage Examples

• Verb (donkey's cry):
  • The donkey began to hee-hau loudly in the early morning. (The donkey made its braying sound.)
• Verb (laughing):
  • He would hee-hau at his own jokes, annoying everyone in the room. (He laughed loudly and coarsely.)

Advanced Usage

• "to hee-hau with laughter": to laugh in a loud, unrestrained, and often unpleasant way.
  • The group of friends would hee-hau with laughter at the comedian's crude jokes. (They laughed boisterously and without restraint.)

Variants and Related Words

• Hee-haw (noun): the sound made by a donkey; also used as a noun for a loud, raucous laugh.
  • A sudden hee-haw came from the barn. (The donkey's braying sound.)

Synonyms

• Bray: (verb) to make the cry of a donkey.
• Guffaw: (verb) to laugh loudly and heartily, often in a coarse way.
• Roar: (verb) to laugh very loudly.

Related Idioms

• Hee-haw like a donkey: to laugh or cry out in a manner reminiscent of a donkey.
  • He would hee-hau like a donkey whenever he found something extremely funny. (He laughed in a loud, braying manner.)