# hearse

> English word · Noun · IPA /hɜːs/ · frequency rank #37,023

## Definitions
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.

## Etymology
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”).

## Easily confused with
- **here** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-here)
- **hers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hers)
- **heart** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-heart)
- **horse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-horse)
- **heats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-heats)
- **heave** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-heave)
- **Hesse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hesse)
- **Hoare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hoare)
- **hearts** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hearts)
- **hearty** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hearty)
- **hearth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hearth)
- **Hearst** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hearst)
- **hoarse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hoarse)
- **hearted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hearse-vs-hearted)
- **hear** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hear-vs-hearse)
- **hare** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hare-vs-hearse)
- **heard** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/heard-vs-hearse)
- **heads** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/heads-vs-hearse)
- **harsh** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harsh-vs-hearse)
- **hears** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/hears-vs-hearse)

## Common misspellings (8)
`eharse`, `haerse`, `heares`, `hearrse`, `hearsse`, `heasre`, `herase`, `hhearse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/hearse