ha-ha, n.2
(ˈhɑːhɑː, formerly also hɑːˈhɑː)
Also haha, ha! ha!, ha-hah (8 ah, ah), 8–9 haw-haw.
[a. F. haha (17th c. in Hatz.-Darm.) ‘an obstacle interrupting one's way sharply and disagreeably, a ditch behind an opening in a wall at the bottom of an alley or walk’; according to French etymologists, from ha! exclamation of surprise.]
A boundary to a garden, pleasure-ground, or park, of such a kind as not to interrupt the view from within, and not to be seen till closely approached; consisting of a trench, the inner side of which is perpendicular and faced with stone, the outer sloping and turfed; a sunk fence.
| 1712 J. James tr. Le Blond's Gardening 28 The End of this Terrass is terminated by..an Ah, Ah, with a dry Ditch at the Foot of it. Ibid. 77 Thorough-Views, call'd Ah, Ah,..are Openings..to the very Level of the Walks, with a large and deep Ditch at the Foot.., which surprizes..and makes one cry, Ah! Ah! from whence it takes its Name. 1724 in Amherst Gardening (1895) 234 The walks are terminated by Ha-hah's, over which you see [etc.]. 1749 Lady Luxborough Lett. to Shenstone 4 June, The Ha! Ha! is digging. 1803 H. Repton Landscape Gardening 86 The sunk fence or ha! ha! in some places answers the purpose. 1852 R. S. Surtees Sponge's Sp. Tour liii. 300 [The hound] ran a black cart-colt, and made him leap the haw-haw. 1880 Q. Rev. Apr. 336 The constant use of Ha⁓has (or sunk-fences). |
b. transf. and fig.
| 1773 Mason Ep. to Sir W. Chambers, Leap each ha-ha of truth and common sense. 1858 H. Miller Rambles Geol. Wks. (1869) 303 These ravines..are ha-has of Nature's digging. |
c. attrib., as ha-ha ditch, ha-ha fence, ha-ha wall.
| 1769 De Foe's Tour Gt. Brit. I. 325 Throwing down the Walls of the Garden, and making, instead of them, Haw-haw Walls. 1774 T. Hutchinson Diary 17 Sept., A ha-ha fence at the bottom of the garden. 1849 Ann. Reg. 106 The Ha-ha ditch in Kensington Gardens. |