Ha Ha: Origin of This Common Expression

Tuesday

Feb232010

Ha Ha.
Many of us utter it often, and most of us type it or text it, but have you ever wondered just WHERE the term "ha ha" came from?

This one is an exclamation that became a word; and a most peculiar derivative at that. A ha ha is "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."

It is used in English gardens as a boundary that doesn't interrupt the view from inside, and can't be seen from the outside until you come very close to it. It is, in effect, a sunken fence, the inner side of the ditch perpendicular and faced with stone, while the outer side is turfed and sloping.

Photo by Derek Harper

Ha-ha walls are invisible from one's house and make it possible for the whole of the landscape of a garden to appear to be contiguous with the house.

When these ditches, or fosses, were first used extensively in the 17th century, etymologists tell us that people out for a stroll in the country were frequently surprised to find a sudden check to their walk. Their exclamations of "ha ha!," "ah-hah!," or "hah-hah!" in expressing their surprise became the name of the ditch or sunken fence.

Photo by R. Neil Mashman

Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 9:39AM | |

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Reader Comments (10)

Whoa, that's interesting!

Thanks for bringing that to light.

What about "hehe"?....is that "two guys stuck in a ditch"? ah ha! ;-)

February 23, 2010 |

Tiger

I say that all the time...Hahahahaha

February 23, 2010 |

Susan

I still like it better than LOL - even though LOL makes me do just that!
Your word of the day is cool...

February 23, 2010 |

Ahelee

So it it connected to "aha" as in a moment of discover? Of course, today it is used as an expression of laughter. ha ha!

February 23, 2010 |

Laura Gentry

haha :P

February 23, 2010 |

Kevin

HA HA TONS OF LOVE FROM UT WHERE THE SUN IS SHINNING TODAY

February 23, 2010 |

Summer

Ha ha on text in spain where i live is jejejejeje! Just thought you might like to know that!! Oh i'd better explain that a J in Spanish vocabulary is either a K or an H but never a J....ok!

February 23, 2010 |

Mario Bello

A ha ha was often employed to keep sheep, cows, and other ungulates away from the lawns of the manor estates

February 23, 2010 |

Shoshona

HAHA love it

February 23, 2010 |

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