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Webster 1913 Edition

Herse

Herse

(hẽrs)
,
Noun.
[F.
herse
harrow, portcullis, OF.
herce
, LL.
hercia
, L.
hirpex
, gen.
hirpicis
, and
irpex
, gen.
irpicis
, harrow. The LL.
hercia
signifies also a kind of candlestick in the form of a harrow, having branches filled with lights, and placed at the head of graves or cenotaphs; whence
herse
came to be used for the grave, coffin, or chest containing the dead. Cf.
Hearse
.]
1.
(Fort.)
A kind of gate or portcullis, having iron bars, like a harrow, studded with iron spikes. It is hung above gateways so that it may be quickly lowered, to impede the advance of an enemy.
Farrow.
2.
See
Hearse
, a carriage for the dead.
3.
A funeral ceremonial.
[Obs.]
Spenser.

Herse

,
Verb.
T.
Same as
Hearse
,
Verb.
T.
Chapman.

Webster 1828 Edition

Herse

HERSE

,
Noun.
hers.
1.
In fortification, a lattice or portcullis in the form of a harrow, set with iron spikes. It is hung by a rope fastened to a moulinet, and when a gate is broken, it is let down to obstruct the passage. It is called also a sarrasin or cataract, and when it consists of straight stakes without cross-pieces, it is called orgues.
Herse is also a harrow, used for a chevaux de frise, and laid in the way or in breaches, with the points up, to obstruct or incommode the march of an enemy.
1.
A carriage for bearing corpses to the grave. It is a frame only, or a box, as in England, borne on wheels.
2.
A temporary monument set over a grave. [Unusual and not legitimate.]
3.
A funeral eulogy. [Not used.]

HERSE

,
Verb.
T.
hers. To put on or in a herse.
1.
To carry to the grave.

Definition 2025

Herse

Herse

See also: herse and hèrse

English

Proper noun

Herse

  1. (astronomy) One of the moons of Jupiter.

herse

herse

See also: Herse and hèrse

English

Noun

herse ‎(plural herses)

  1. 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.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Farrow to this entry?)
  2. Obsolete form of hearse (a carriage for the dead)
  3. (obsolete) A funeral ceremony.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Spenser to this entry?)

Verb

herse ‎(third-person singular simple present herses, present participle hersing, simple past and past participle hersed)

  1. Alternative form of hearse
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Chapman to this entry?)

French

Etymology

Latin hirpex.

Pronunciation

  • (aspirated h) IPA(key): /ɛʁs/

Noun

herse f ‎(plural herses)

  1. harrow (device for breaking up soil)
  2. portcullis (gate in the form of a grating)
  3. grate, grill (especially to block large objects floating down a river)
  4. candlestick, candelabrum (with a triangular base and spikes to hold large candles)
  5. stage lighting instrument, luminaire that disperses light over a stage

Verb

herse

  1. first-person singular present indicative of herser
  2. third-person singular present indicative of herser
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of herser
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of herser
  5. second-person singular present imperative of herser

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