H (ch), the eighth letter of the English alphabet, is classed among the
consonants, and is formed with the mouth organs in the same position as
that of the succeeding vowel. It is used with certain consonants to
form digraphs representing sounds which are not found in the alphabet,
as sh, th, , as in shall, thing, ine (for zh see ß274); also, to modify
the sounds of some other letters, as when placed after c and p, with
the former of which it represents a compound sound like that of tsh, as
in charm (written also tch as in catch), with the latter, the sound of
f, as in phase, phantom. In some words, mostly derived or introduced
from foreign languages, h following c and g indicates that those
consonants have the hard sound before e, i, and y, as in chemistry,
chiromancy, chyle, Ghent, Ghibelline, etc.; in some others, ch has the
sound of sh, as in chicane. See Guide to Pronunciation, ßß 153, 179,
181-3, 237-8.
The name (aitch) is from the French ache; its form is from the Latin,
and this from the Greek H, which was used as the sign of the spiritus
asper (rough breathing) before it came to represent the long vowel, Gr.
η. The Greek H is from Phúnician, the ultimate origin probably
being Egyptian. Etymologically H is most closely related to c; as in E.
horn, L. cornu, Gr. ke`ras; E. hele, v. t., conceal; E. hide, L. cutis,
Gr. ky`tos; E. hundred, L. centum, Gr. "e- kat-on, Skr. ata.
H piece (Mining), the part of a plunger pump which contains the valve.
H (h‰). (Mus.) The seventh degree in the diatonic scale, being used by
the Germans for B natural. See B.
Ha (h‰), interj. [AS.] An exclamation denoting surprise, joy, or grief.
Both as uttered and as written, it expresses a great variety of
emotions, determined by the tone or the context. When repeated, ha, ha,
it is an expression of laughter, satisfaction, or triumph, sometimes of
derisive laughter; or sometimes it is equivalent to "Well, it is so."
Ha-has, and inarticulate hootings of satirical rebuke.
Carlyle.
Haaf (h‰f), n. [Of Scand. origin; cf. Icel. & Sw. haf the sea, Dan.
hav, perh. akin to E. haven.] The deepsea fishing for cod, ling, and
tusk, off the Shetland Isles.
Haak (hk), n. (Zoˆl.) A sea fish. See Hake. Ash.
Haar (h‰r), n. [See Hoar.] A fog; esp., a fog or mist with a chill
wind. [Scot.] T. Chalmers.
||Ha"be*as cor"pus (h"b*s kÙr"ps). [L. you may have the body.] (Law) A
||writ having for its object to bring a party before a court or judge;
||especially, one to inquire into the cause of a person's imprisonment
||or detention by another, with the view to protect the right to
||personal liberty; also, one to bring a prisoner into court to testify
||in a pending trial. Bouvier.
||Ha*ben"dum (h*bn"dm), n. [L., that must be had.] (Law) That part of a
||deed which follows the part called the premises, and determines the
||extent of the interest or estate granted; -- so called because it
||begins with the word Habendum. Kent.
Hab"er*dash (hb"r*dsh), v. i. [See Haberdasher.] To deal in small
wares. [R.]
To haberdash in earth's base ware.
Quarles.
Hab"er*dash`er (-dsh`r), n. [Prob. fr. Icel. hapurtask trumpery,
trifles, perh. through French. It is possibly akin to E. haversack, and
to Icel. taska trunk, chest, pocket, G. tasche pocket, and the orig.
sense was perh., peddler's wares.] 1. A dealer in small wares, as
tapes, pins, needles, and thread; also, a hatter. [Obs.]
The haberdasher heapeth wealth by hats.
Gascoigne.
2. A dealer in drapery goods of various descriptions, as laces, silks,
trimmings, etc.
Hab"er*dash`er*y (-), n. The goods and wares sold by a haberdasher;
also (Fig.), trifles. Burke.
Hab`er*dine" (hb`r*dn" or h"br*dn), n. [D. abberdaan, labberdaan; or a
French form, cf. OF. habordeau, from the name of a Basque district, cf.
F. Labourd, adj. Labourdin. The l was misunderstood as the French
article.] A cod salted and dried. Ainsworth.
Ha*ber"ge*on (h*br"j*n or hb"r*jn), n. [F. haubergeon a small hauberk,
dim. of OF. hauberc, F. haubert. See Hauberk.] Properly, a short
hauberk, but often used loosely for the hauberk. Chaucer.
Hab"i*la*to*ry (hb"*l*t*r), a. Of or pertaining to clothing; wearing
clothes. Ld. Lytton.
Hab"ile (hb"l), a. [F. habile, L. habilis. See Able, Habit.] Fit;
qualified; also, apt. [Obs.] Spenser.
Ha*bil"i*ment (h*bl"*ment), n. [F. habillement, fr. habiller to dress,
clothe, orig., to make fit, make ready, fr. habile apt, skillful, L.
habilis. See Habile.] 1. A garment; an article of clothing. Camden.