herse
/hɜɹs/
Word Rarity
Very rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.48 in modern English
8
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
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.
verb
Alternative form of hearse.
Example Sentences
- "In the south aisle, on a slab raised on four low shafts and covered by an iron herse, is a fine coloured recumbent effigy of a bishop"
- "Dido, my deare, alas! Dead, and lyeth wrapt in lead. O heavie herse!"
- "The house is hers'd about with a black wood, Which nods with many a heavy-headed tree: Each flower's a pregnant poison, try'd and good; Each herb a plague."
- "The Grecians spritefully drew from the darts the corse, And hers'd it, bearing it to fleet."
- "I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear. O, would she were hers'd at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin."
Etymology
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: hierche, herce
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /hɜɹs/
- British English: /hɜːs/