haha
interjectionverbnounnounattested in dialogue
An onomatopoeic representation of laughter.
interjection
- 1
An onomatopoeic representation of laughter.
Etymology
From Middle English haha, ha ha, from Old English ha ha (interjection), ultimately onomatopoeic. Compare Old Frisian haha (interjection), Middle Low German hahā, hahahā (interjection), Middle High German hahā, haha (interjection), all expressions of joy or of laughter.
verb
- 1
To laugh.
First he regarded the strangers, then his own band, and his mouth was expanded to a still wider grin; his eyes opened to their fullest extent, and at last he haha’d as furiously and heartily as the worst of the sailors, which was naturally the signal for an outbreak on the part of the islanders.
Emett yelled for him, and Jones and Jim “hahaed!”
She haha’d like she ate diamonds for breakfast and flossed with spun gold.
Then she shrugged and haha-ed again and mumbled, “Poor souls,” because she thought she was safe and none of us could comprehend a single word she said.
noun
- 1
A type of boundary to a garden, pleasure-ground, or park, designed not to interrupt the view and to be invisible until closely approached.
Haha! or Fossee, are Terms of the same Signification, tho' the First is a new coin'd Word, they mean a Ditch, or Moat to Enclose a Garden, whether the Ditch has Water in it, or not, but the Haha, by the Custom of five or six Years, intimates a dry Ditch, so regulated by Slopes, and so Deep that it is unpassable. It makes a fine open Fence to a Ground.
And then that pair went off together, fighting their own little battle on that head, as turtle-doves will sometimes do. They went off, and Bernard was left with Bell standing together over the ha-ha fence which divides the garden at the back of the house from the field.
The estate was cleverly landscaped to give an almost park-like view from the house: copses were planted to conceal buildings, hahas dug to replace fences or hedges.
Etymology
Borrowed from French haha. The French term attested 1686 in toponyms in New France (present-day Quebec); compare modern Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!. Usual etymology is that an expression of surprise – “ha ha” or “ah! ah!” is exclaimed on encountering such a boundary. In France this is traditionally attributed to the reaction of Louis, Grand Dauphin to encountering such a feature in the gardens of the Château de Meudon. The English term attested 1712, in translation by John James of French La theorie et la pratique du jardinage (1709) by Dezallier d'Argenville: Grills of iron are very necessary ornaments in the lines of walks, to extend the view, and to show the country to advantage. At present we frequently make thoroughviews, called Ah, Ah, which are openings in the walls, without grills, to the very level of the walks, with a large and deep ditch at the foot of them, lined on both sides to sustain the earth, and prevent the getting over; which surprises the eye upon coming near it, and makes one laugh, Ha! Ha! from where it takes its name. This sort of opening is haha, on some occasions, to be preferred, for that it does not at all interrupt the prospect, as the bars of a grill do.
noun
- 1
A large leafy Hawaiian plant, Gunnera petaloidea.
Etymology
Borrowed from Hawaiian hāhā.
Forms
- plural
- hahas
- past tense
- hahaed, haha'd, haha'ed, haha-ed
- past participle
- hahaed, haha'd, haha'ed, haha-ed
- present participle
- hahaing, haha'ing, haha-ing
- third person singular
- hahas, haha's
haha · An onomatopoeic representation of laughter.
hai · Hi.hail · Balls or pieces of ice falling as precipitation, often in…Hail · A province of Saudi Arabia