hearse

Meaning

Noun

1. 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.
2. A grave, coffin, tomb, or sepulchral monument.
3. A bier or handbarrow for conveying the dead to the grave.
4. 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.

Synonyms

bier

coffin

⚰️

entomb

tomb

funeral coaches

funeral coach

coffin bearer

dead wagon

Translations

corbillard

coche fúnebre

Leichenwagen

carro funebre

lijkwagen

νεκροφόρα

carro fúnebre

cenaze arabası

carrozza funeraria

rabecão

Bestattungswagen

baldacchino

carrozzone

bara

Pronounced as (IPA)

/hɜːs/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: herse

Cognate with Latin: hīrsūtus

In summary

From Middle English herse, hers, herce, from Old French herce, from Medieval Latin hercia, from Latin herpicem, hirpex; ultimately from Oscan 𐌇𐌉𐌓𐌐𐌖𐌔 (hirpus, “wolf”), a reference to the teeth, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰers- (“stiff, rigid, bristled”). The Oscan term is related to Latin hīrsūtus (“bristly, shaggy”), whence English hirsute. Doublet of herse (“kind of gate”).