Hesitation, n.
Etymology: [L. haesitatio: cf. F. hésitation.]
1. The act of hesitating; suspension of opinion or action; doubt; vacillation.
2. A faltering in speech; stammering. Swift.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for hesitation; he lists it under doubt.
Where he writes about it:
Misgiving is ordinarily in regard to the outcome of something already done or decided; hesitation, indecision, and irresolution have reference to something that remains to be decided or done, and are due oftener to infirmity of will than to lack of knowledge. — from doubt