hearse

Meanings

Noun

• A hind (female deer) in the second year of her age.
• A framework of wood or metal placed over the coffin or tomb of a deceased person, and covered with a pall; also, a temporary canopy bearing wax lights and set up in a church, under which the coffin was placed during the funeral ceremonies.
• A grave, coffin, tomb, or sepulchral monument.
• A bier or handbarrow for conveying the dead to the grave.
• A carriage or vehicle specially adapted or used for transporting a dead person to the place of funeral or to the grave.

Verb

• To enclose in a hearse; to entomb.

Origin

• From Middle English herse, hers, herce, from Old French herce, from Medieval Latin hercia, from Latin herpicem, hirpex; ultimately from Oscan 𐌇𐌉𐌓𐌐𐌖𐌔, a reference to the teeth. The Oscan term is related to Latin hīrsūtus. hirsute.