# Shaw

/ˈʃɔ/ (US) · /ʃˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shaw
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a small wood

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Literary

a small group of trees or a thicket.

For teachers: a small wood, grove, or thicket. This sense is primarily found in Northern English dialects or older literary works.

- The birds hid from the wind in a small shaw at the edge of the field.
- The path wound through a dense shaw of hazel and birch before opening onto the moorland beyond.

Usage: Often used in place names in Northern England.

### 2. vegetable leaves

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

the green leaves and stems that grow above ground on vegetables like potatoes or turnips.

For teachers: the foliage or tops of garden vegetables, particularly root crops like potatoes and turnips. This usage is specific to Scottish English.

- The farmer checked the potato shaws to see if the plants were healthy.
- By late August, the potato shaws had begun to wither, signalling that the tubers beneath were ready for harvest.

Teaching tip: This sense is highly regional; learners will likely only encounter it in Scotland or in literature set there.

### 3. polite version of 'shit'

interjection · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a word used to show you are annoyed, used instead of a stronger swear word.

For teachers: a minced oath or euphemistic substitution for the profanity 'shit'.

- Oh shaw, I forgot to bring my umbrella.
- He muttered a frustrated 'shaw' under his breath when the computer screen froze for the third time that hour.

## Examples

- The children played hide and seek in the shaw.
- A narrow path winds through the shaw, leading travelers away from the main road and into the dense brush.
- The estate was bordered by an ancient shaw of oak and hazel, which provided a natural screen against the prevailing winds from the valley.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.