*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of hare

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

4 source sectionsExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 4 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Source etymology 1 · variant 1/2

Original entry ↗
verb

To move swiftly.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "taxfmt",
      "args": {
        "1": "Lepus europaeus",
        "2": "species"
      },
      "expansion": "Lepus europaeus"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English hare"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "hara",
        "4": "",
        "5": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English hara (“hare”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*hasō",
        "4": "*hasō ~ *haʀ-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *hasō ~ *haʀ-"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*hesô"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *hesô"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*ḱeh₂s-",
        "4": "*ḱh₂s-én-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂s-én-"
    },
    {
      "name": "m+",
      "args": {
        "1": "gem-pro",
        "2": "*haswaz",
        "3": "",
        "4": "grey"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *haswaz (“grey”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "col-top",
      "args": {
        "1": "2",
        "2": "cog"
      },
      "expansion": "Cognates"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "fy",
        "2": "hazze"
      },
      "expansion": "West Frisian hazze"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "haas"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch haas"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Hase"
      },
      "expansion": "German Hase"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "no",
        "2": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish hare"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "is",
        "2": "heri"
      },
      "expansion": "Icelandic heri"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "hasu"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English hasu"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "gmh",
        "2": "heswe",
        "3": "",
        "4": "pale, dull"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle High German heswe (“pale, dull”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "cy",
        "2": "cannu",
        "3": "",
        "4": "to whiten"
      },
      "expansion": "Welsh cannu (“to whiten”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "cānus",
        "3": "",
        "4": "white"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin cānus (“white”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "prg",
        "2": "sasnis",
        "3": "",
        "4": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Prussian sasnis (“hare”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ps",
        "2": "سوی",
        "3": "",
        "4": "hare",
        "tr": "soe"
      },
      "expansion": "Pashto سوی (soe, “hare”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sa",
        "2": "शश",
        "3": "",
        "4": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Sanskrit शश (śaśa, “hare”)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
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      "European hare",
      "European hare"
    ],
    [
      "Lepus europaeus",
      "Lepus europaeus#Translingual"
    ],
    [
      "hare",
      "hare#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "hara",
      "hara#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*hasō ~ *haʀ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/hasō"
    ],
    [
      "*hesô",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/hesô"
    ],
    [
      "*ḱh₂s-én-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ḱeh₂s-"
    ],
    [
      "*haswaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/haswaz"
    ],
    [
      "hazze",
      "hazze#West_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "haas",
      "haas#Dutch"
    ],
    [
      "Hase",
      "Hase#German"
    ],
    [
      "hare",
      "hare#Swedish"
    ],
    [
      "heri",
      "heri#Icelandic"
    ],
    [
      "hasu",
      "hasu#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "heswe",
      "heswe#Middle_High_German"
    ],
    [
      "cannu",
      "cannu#Welsh"
    ],
    [
      "ceinach",
      "ceinach#Welsh"
    ],
    [
      "cānus",
      "canus#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "cascus",
      "cascus#Latin"
    ],
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      "sasnis",
      "sasnis#Old_Prussian"
    ],
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      "سوی",
      "سوی#Pashto"
    ],
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      "शश",
      "शश#Sanskrit"
    ]
  ],
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        "To move swiftly."
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Source etymology 1 · variant 2/2

Original entry ↗
noun

Any of several plant-eating mammals of the genus Lepus, similar to a rabbit, but larger and with longer ears. · The meat from this animal. · The player in a paperchase, or hare and hounds game, who leaves a trail of paper to be followed.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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”).

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [
    {
      "name": "taxfmt",
      "args": {
        "1": "Lepus europaeus",
        "2": "species"
      },
      "expansion": "Lepus europaeus"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English hare"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "hara",
        "4": "",
        "5": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English hara (“hare”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*hasō",
        "4": "*hasō ~ *haʀ-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *hasō ~ *haʀ-"
    },
    {
      "name": "inh",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "gem-pro",
        "3": "*hesô"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *hesô"
    },
    {
      "name": "der",
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ine-pro",
        "3": "*ḱeh₂s-",
        "4": "*ḱh₂s-én-"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂s-én-"
    },
    {
      "name": "m+",
      "args": {
        "1": "gem-pro",
        "2": "*haswaz",
        "3": "",
        "4": "grey"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-Germanic *haswaz (“grey”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "col-top",
      "args": {
        "1": "2",
        "2": "cog"
      },
      "expansion": "Cognates"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "fy",
        "2": "hazze"
      },
      "expansion": "West Frisian hazze"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "haas"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch haas"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "Hase"
      },
      "expansion": "German Hase"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "no",
        "2": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sv",
        "2": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Swedish hare"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "is",
        "2": "heri"
      },
      "expansion": "Icelandic heri"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ang",
        "2": "hasu"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English hasu"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "gmh",
        "2": "heswe",
        "3": "",
        "4": "pale, dull"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle High German heswe (“pale, dull”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "cy",
        "2": "cannu",
        "3": "",
        "4": "to whiten"
      },
      "expansion": "Welsh cannu (“to whiten”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "la",
        "2": "cānus",
        "3": "",
        "4": "white"
      },
      "expansion": "Latin cānus (“white”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "prg",
        "2": "sasnis",
        "3": "",
        "4": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Old Prussian sasnis (“hare”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "ps",
        "2": "سوی",
        "3": "",
        "4": "hare",
        "tr": "soe"
      },
      "expansion": "Pashto سوی (soe, “hare”)"
    },
    {
      "name": "cog",
      "args": {
        "1": "sa",
        "2": "शश",
        "3": "",
        "4": "hare"
      },
      "expansion": "Sanskrit शश (śaśa, “hare”)"
    }
  ],
  "links": [
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      "European hare",
      "European hare"
    ],
    [
      "Lepus europaeus",
      "Lepus europaeus#Translingual"
    ],
    [
      "hare",
      "hare#Middle_English"
    ],
    [
      "hara",
      "hara#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "*hasō ~ *haʀ-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-West Germanic/hasō"
    ],
    [
      "*hesô",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/hesô"
    ],
    [
      "*ḱh₂s-én-",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Indo-European/ḱeh₂s-"
    ],
    [
      "*haswaz",
      "Reconstruction:Proto-Germanic/haswaz"
    ],
    [
      "hazze",
      "hazze#West_Frisian"
    ],
    [
      "haas",
      "haas#Dutch"
    ],
    [
      "Hase",
      "Hase#German"
    ],
    [
      "hare",
      "hare#Swedish"
    ],
    [
      "heri",
      "heri#Icelandic"
    ],
    [
      "hasu",
      "hasu#Old_English"
    ],
    [
      "heswe",
      "heswe#Middle_High_German"
    ],
    [
      "cannu",
      "cannu#Welsh"
    ],
    [
      "ceinach",
      "ceinach#Welsh"
    ],
    [
      "cānus",
      "canus#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "cascus",
      "cascus#Latin"
    ],
    [
      "sasnis",
      "sasnis#Old_Prussian"
    ],
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      "سوی",
      "سوی#Pashto"
    ],
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      "शश",
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    ]
  ],
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      "lang": "Sranan Tongo",
      "lang_code": "srn",
      "word": "hei"
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Source etymology 2

Original entry ↗
verb

To excite; to tease or worry; to harry.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    ],
    [
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      "harien#Middle_English"
    ],
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      "harry#English"
    ],
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      "harass#English"
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  ],
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Source etymology 3

Original entry ↗
adj

Grey, hoary; grey-haired, venerable (of people). · Cold, frosty (of weather).

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

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

Relationships mentioned by the source

These are extracted mentions, not a timeline or a verified sequence of immediate parents.

  • Derivation mentionhoreenm
  • Derivation mentionhārang
  • Derivation mention*hairazgem-pro
  • Cognate mentionhehrde
Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

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    },
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        "2": "ang",
        "3": "hār",
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    }
  ],
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Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for hare →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
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Import run
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Permanent entry ID
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