haw

• Nom désignant un arbuste ou un petit arbre à fleurs printanières du genre Crataegus (aubépine), ou bien la membrane nictitante (troisième paupière) du cheval.

A noun referring to a spring-flowering shrub or small tree of the genus Crataegus, or the nictitating membrane of a horse.

1. Hawthorn shrub or treeB2formal

   A spring-flowering shrub or small tree belonging to the genus Crataegus, often bearing red fruit.

   Aubépine (arbuste)

   • The hedgerow was full of haw in full bloom.
   • Birds love to eat the berries of the haw.
   • He planted a row of haw along the fence line.
   • In autumn, the haw produces small red fruits.

   Synonymeshawthornmaywhitethorn

2. C1formalmedical

   The third eyelid or nictitating membrane of a horse or other animal, used for protection and cleaning of the eye.

   Membrane nictitante (du cheval)

   • The veterinarian examined the horse's haw for any signs of infection.
   • When the horse blinked, its haw flicked across the eye.
   • A swollen haw can indicate an underlying health issue.
   • The haw moves horizontally to clear debris from the eye.

   Synonymesthird eyelid

• Verbe vieilli ou dialectal signifiant tourner ou diriger (quelque chose) vers la gauche, ou hésiter dans son discours (souvent utilisé dans l'expression 'hem and haw').

An archaic or dialectal verb meaning to turn or direct (something) to the left, or to hesitate in speech (often used in the phrase 'hem and haw').

1. Utter 'haw'B2informal

   To make the sound 'haw', often used to express hesitation or as a command to a horse to turn left.

   dire « haw »

   • The farmer hawed to the horse to turn left.
   • He hemmed and hawed before giving an answer.
   • She hawed loudly to get the animal's attention.