Hearse Definition
hûrs
noun
A vehicle for conveying a coffin to a church or cemetery.
American Heritage
An automobile or carriage, used in a funeral for carrying the corpse.
Webster's New World
A triangular framework to hold candles at Tenebrae.
Webster's New World
A framelike structure above a coffin or tomb, for candles, hangings, etc.
Webster's New World
A bier or coffin.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
- dead wagon
- conveyance for a coffin
- meat-wagon
- undertaker's limousine
- funeral coach
- funeral van
Origin of Hearse
Middle English herse a harrow-shaped structure for holding candles over a coffin from Old French herce from Medieval Latin hercia from Latin hirpex hirpic- harrow probably from Oscan hirpus wolf (alluding to its teeth)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Old French herce, from Medieval Latin hercia, from Latin herpicem, hirpex; ultimately from Oscan (“wolf”), a reference to the teeth. The Oscan term is related to Latin hirsutus (“bristly, shaggy”).
From Wiktionary
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