hart

noun

ˈhärt How to pronounce hart (audio)
chiefly British
: the male of the red deer especially when over five years old : stag compare hind

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hert, going back to Old English heorot, heort "hart, stag," going back to Germanic *heruta- "horned animal" (whence also Old Saxon hirut "stag," Old High German hiruz, hirz "deer, red deer, stag," Old Norse hjǫrtr), from *her- "horn" (going back to Indo-European *ḱer-) + *-uta-, suffix of animal names — more at horn

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hart was before the 12th century

Rhymes for hart

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Browse Nearby Words

harstigite
hart
Hart
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Cite this Entry

“Hart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hart. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

hart

noun
ˈhärt How to pronounce hart (audio)
chiefly British
: a male red deer especially over five years old : stag

Biographical Definition

Hart 1 of 6

biographical name (1)

ˈhärt How to pronounce Hart (audio)
Albert Bushnell 1854–1943 American historian and editor

Hart

2 of 6

biographical name (2)

Lorenz 1895–1943 American lyricist

Hart

3 of 6

biographical name (3)

Moss 1904–1961 American librettist and dramatist

Hart

4 of 6

biographical name (4)

Oliver 1948–     American (British-born) economist

Hart

5 of 6

biographical name (5)

Sir Robert 1835–1911 British diplomat

Hart

6 of 6

biographical name (6)

William S(urrey) 1872–1946 American actor

More from Merriam-Webster on hart

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hart

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