Etymograph

English

herse

Herse comes from Middle English hierche ‘type of harrow’, and goes back to Middle French herce.

  1. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600herce
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hierche‘type of harrow’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1848herse

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Lineage

  1. Middle Frenchc. 1400–1600herce
  2. Middle Englishc. 1150–1500hierche‘type of harrow’
  3. Englishearliest quotation 1848herse

Earliest quotation: 1848, Benjamin Webb: “In the south aisle, on a slab raised on…”

Every English word from Middle French herce

Today it means

noun A kind of gate or portcullis, having iron bars, like a harrow, studded with iron spikes, hung above gateways so that it may be quickly lowered to impede the advance of an enemy.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Middle French herce / herse

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