Haze (hz), n. [Cf. Icel. hˆss gray; akin to AS. hasu, heasu, gray; or
Armor. aÈzen, Èzen, warm vapor, exhalation, zephyr.] Light vapor or
smoke in the air which more or less impedes vision, with little or no
dampness; a lack of transparency in the air; hence, figuratively,
obscurity; dimness.
O'er the sky The silvery haze of summer drawn.
Tennyson.
Above the world's uncertain haze.
Keble.
Haze, v. i. To be hazy, or thick with haze. Ray.
Haze, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Hazed (hzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Hazing.] [Also
hase.] [Cf. Sw. haza to hamstring, fr. has hough, OD. hÊssen ham.] 1.
To harass by exacting unnecessary, disagreeable, or difficult work.
2. To harass or annoy by playing abusive or shameful tricks upon; to
humiliate by practical jokes; -- used esp. of college students; as, the
sophomores hazed a freshman.
Ha"zel (h"z'l), n. [OE. hasel, AS. hÊsel; akin to D. hazelaar, G.
hazel, OHG. hasal, hasala, Icel. hasl, Dan & Sw. hassel, L. corylus,
for cosylus.] 1. (Bot.) A shrub or small tree of the genus Corylus, as
the C. avellana, bearing a nut containing a kernel of a mild,
farinaceous taste; the filbert. The American species are C. Americana,
which produces the common hazelnut, and C. rostrata. See Filbert. Gray.