hare

hare · noun, verb¹

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*ḱh₂s-én-
2. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*hesô
3. Proto-West Germanic · derived from*hasō ~ *haʀ-
4. Old English · derived fromhara“hare”
5. Middle English · derived fromhare
6. English todayhare

From Middle English hare, from Old English hara (“hare”), from Proto-West Germanic *hasō ~ *haʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *hesô, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂s-én-; possibly related to or influenced by Proto-Germanic *haswaz (“grey”). Cognates See also West Frisian hazze, Dutch haas, German Hase, Norwegian and Swedish hare, Icelandic heri), Old English hasu, Middle High German heswe (“pale, dull”); also Welsh cannu (“to whiten”), ceinach (“hare”), Latin cānus (“white”), cascus (“old”), Old Prussian sasnis (“hare”), Pashto سوی (soe, “hare”) and Sanskrit शश (śaśa, “hare”).

hare · verb²

1. Middle English · derived fromharren
2. English todayhare

From Middle English harren, harien (“to drag by force, ill-treat”), of uncertain origin. Compare harry, harass.

hare · adjective³

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*hairaz“grey”
2. Old English · derived fromhār“hoar, hoary, grey, old”
3. Middle English · derived fromhore
4. English todayhare

From Middle English hore, from Old English hār (“hoar, hoary, grey, old”), from Proto-Germanic *hairaz (“grey”). Cognate with German hehr (“noble, sublime”).

Hare · proper noun⁴

1. Proto-Germanic · derived from*harjōną“to devastate, lay waste”
2. Frankish · derived from*hariōn
3. Old French · derived fromharier
4. Old English · derived fromhær“stone”
5. Old Irish · derived fromsír“long-lasting”
6. English todayHare

* As an Irish surname, from ó hír (“descendant of Ír”), a personal name related to Old Irish sír (“long-lasting”). * Also as an Irish surname, from ó Haichir (“descendant of Aichear”), from aichear (“sharp”). * As an English surname, from the noun hare, originally as a nickname. * Also as an English surname, from Ayre. * Also as an English surname, from the obsolete Old English hær (“stone”). * Also as an English surname, variant of Hair. * As a French surname, from the verb harer (“to stir up, excite”), from Old French harier, from Frankish *hariōn, from Proto-Germanic *harjōną (“to devastate, lay waste”). * As a German surname, variant of Harr.

Words from the same roots