Halse

Pronunciation

• IPA: /hæls/

From Middle English hals, from Old English heals ("neck, prow of a ship"), from Proto-Germanic *halsaz ("neck"), from Proto-Indo-European *kols-, *ḱols- ("neck"). Cognate with Dutch hals ("neck"), German Hals ("neck, throat"), Swedish hals ("neck, throat"), Latin collum ("neck").

Alternative forms

• hawse Scotland

Full definition of halse

Noun

1. (anatomy, archaic) The neck; the throat.

Derived terms

• halseman

From Middle English halsen, halchen, from Old English *halsian, *healsian ("to embrace", literally to fall upon the neck of), from heals ("neck"). See above. Cognate with Old Saxon helsjen ("to embrace"), Old High German halsōn (German halsen ("to jibe")), Icelandic hálsa ("to embrace").

Alternative forms

• haulse
• halsh dialectal
• hawse, hose Scotland

Verb

1. (obsolete) To fall upon the neck of; embrace.
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:And therewithall Sir Trystrames rode forth sore wounded to the lady ...; and there she welcomed hym fayre, and eyther halsed other in armys.

From Middle English halsen, halsien ("to beseech, adjure"), from Old English healsian, hālsian ("to entreat earnestly, beseech, implore"), from Proto-Germanic *hailasōną ("to greet"), from Proto-Indo-European *kailo-, *kailu- ("whole, safe"). Cognate with Middle High German heilsen ("to predict"), Swedish helsa ("to greet"), Icelandic heilsa ("to salute"). More at whole, hailse.

Verb

1. (transitive) To greet; salute; hail.
2. (transitive) To beseech; adjure.

Related terms

• halsen
• halseny
• hazeney
• hazon

From Middle English hals ("neck"), from Old Norse háls ("neck, part of the forecastle or bow of a ship"), from Proto-Germanic *halsaz ("neck"). See Etymology 1. Cognate with Danish hals ("neck, tack").

Alternative forms

• hawse

Noun

1. Alternative form of hawse

Verb

1. (obsolete) To haul; to hoist.

Anagrams

• hales
• heals
• leash
• Sahel
• Selah
• shale