Ha-ha - this is pretty funny
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (346007)
Rockingham, Australia
May 10, 2023 1:32am CST
Our Melbourne son (that’s OUR Melbourne, not the one in Florida) likes to send us links to amazing houses that he thinks we should purchase. The latest was a castle with 17 bedrooms, all with ensuites.
While perusing the link, I learnt two more new words. Firstly, ha-ha, which is a landscaping feature that creates a vertical barrier but gives an uninterrupted view from the other side. It might include a ditch and fence, a sunken or blind fence or a wall. There might be a grassy slope leading to a vertical face, typically a brick wall.
A ha-ha was often used round stately homes to keep domestic livestock away from the immediate vicinity of the house. Sheep and cattle could graze right up to the barrier but couldn’t trespass on to the landscaped gardens and/or lawns.
The other new-to-me word was ‘foss’ which means waterfall, although I think maybe it was sometimes used to mean ‘ditch’.
Wikipedia states that Terry Pratchett used the word in Snuff and I quote: they "navigate their way around the ha-ha, keep their distance from the ho-ho and completely ignore the he-he." Which is pretty funny.
But isn’t ha-ha a strange word?
The photo is of Trim Castle, Co. Meath, Ireland.
23 people like this
22 responses
I didn't know there were such words. I guess the ha-ha in my building did not work as intended, so I also have to navigate around the ho-ho....this is funny. he-he.
I'm trying to be a comedian, but I guess, it's not one of my skills. 
@DaddyEvil (141215)
• United States
10 May 23
Ha-ha is a strange thing to call a barrier... but Terry Pratchett was an extremely good author with a lot of books that I thoroughly enjoyed and read over and over again. (I have all of his books in paper/ink copies as well as ebook form.)
Were any of the houses something you'd like to buy? 
3 people like this
@Beestring (14904)
• Hong Kong
10 May 23
Yes, ha-ha is a funny word. Never heard of it before.
2 people like this
@m_audrey6788 (58472)
• Germany
10 May 23
I`m wondering why they came up with ha-ha 
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (48483)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
10 May 23
I've known about ha-has but not foss.
Love what Terry wrote. Hee hee.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (140557)
• India
10 May 23
I have always said English is a funny language
1 person likes this
@allknowing (140557)
• India
10 May 23
@JudyEv I have had enough proof already (lol)
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91912)
• Arvada, Colorado
10 May 23
That Terry Pratchett was a funny guy.
Yes it is weird..I had never heard. I had heard foss but did not know the meaning..I mean it sounds familiar.
So will you be taking the castle Judy?
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (82412)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
10 May 23
Strangest work I ever heard, However, you've given me an idea for you, How about purchasing the castle and then making it into a hotel and earning from it?
1 person likes this
@Treborika (17853)
• Mombasa, Kenya
11 May 23
Thanks for the nice update of the he he. I hope it serves as a historical site
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (185069)
• United States
10 May 23
It is a indeed a funny word. Green Bay used to have a football player by the name of Ha- Ha Clinton Dix. I wonder if it was Ha-Ha because they were expecting a girl...lol.
1 person likes this
@changjiangzhibin89 (16845)
• China
10 May 23
I learn two new words too.Before now ,I just knew ha-ha represented a shout of laughter.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (111413)
• Marion, Ohio
10 May 23
That is a strange word with what we are used to it meaning
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (346007)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 May 23
We were pretty good fixer-uppers once but not any more.
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
10 May 23
I thought you were laughing! It is a new word, indeed!
1 person likes this
