hare

Etymology 1

From Middle English hare, from Old English hara (“hare”), from Proto-West Germanic *hasō ~ *haʀ-, from Proto-Germanic *hasô, from *haswaz (“grey”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱh₂s-én-. Cognates See also West Frisian hazze, Dutch haas, German Hase, Norwegian and Swedish hare, Icelandic heri), Old English hasu, Middle High German heswe (“pale, dull”); also Welsh cannu (“to whiten”), ceinach (“hare”), Latin cānus (“white”), cascus (“old”), Old Prussian sasnis (“hare”), Pashto سوی (soe, “hare”) and Sanskrit शश (śaśa, “hare”).

noun

1. Any of several plant-eating animals of the family Leporidae, especially of the genus Lepus, similar to a rabbit, but larger and with longer ears.
2. The player in a paperchase, or hare and hounds game, who leaves a trail of paper to be followed.

verb

1. (intransitive) To move swiftly.
   But Wales somehow snaffled possession for fly-half Jones to send half-back partner Mike Phillips haring away with Stoddart in support. February 4, 2011, Gareth Roberts, “Wales 19-26 England”, in BBC

Etymology 2

From Middle English harren, harien (“to drag by force, ill-treat”), of uncertain origin. Compare harry, harass.

verb

1. (obsolete) To excite; to tease, or worry; to harry.
   To hare and rate them thus at every turn, is not to teach them, but to vex, and torment them to no purpoſe. 1693, John Locke, Some Thoughts Concerning Education

Etymology 3

From Middle English hore, from Old English hār (“hoar, hoary, grey, old”), from Proto-Germanic *hairaz (“grey”). Cognate with German hehr (“noble, sublime”).

adj

1. (regional) Grey, hoary; grey-haired, venerable (of people).
   a hare old man
2. (regional) Cold, frosty (of weather).
   a hare day