An affected exclamation. Also as vb. (cf. YAW-HAW, YAW-YAW).
1797. Mrs. A. M. Bennett, Beggar Girl (1813), III. 277. He will yaw a parcel of nonsense about jukes and lords.
1826. F. Reynolds, Life & Times, II. 94. Yawning and muttering, ‘Reynolds is an humorist, not a wit—yaw! yaw! I am a wit!’
