ha-ha
9.9
A ditch with a low wall that keeps animals away without blocking the view
- noun
- Specialized
:
ha-ha
- This historic estate has a ha-ha that enhances the scenery and creates a seamless transition between the different areas.
Examples
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As we walked through the park, we admired the ha-ha that elegantly blended with the landscape while keeping the cows from wandering off.
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Shakespeare wrote a play whose title describes this brou-ha-ha to a tee.
Blog text (10) -
The garden was beautifully designed, featuring a ha-ha to separate the lawn from the flower beds without obstructing the view.
Synonyms
9.9
A ditch with one side formed by a low wall that divides land without blocking the view
is used specifically in gardens or parks rather than general land division
9.9
A hidden ditch that stops animals from coming in and keeps the view open
is for marking boundaries in gardens and parks, not mainly for animal control
How Deep
Surface Forms
Etymology
Ha-ha for the garden ditch comes from the old French word haha, an exclamation meaning 'what a surprise'. The ditch is hidden and surprises you when you come close, so a ha-ha keeps the view open while marking a boundary.