harelip

[ hair-lip ]

noun

1. Usually Offensive. cleft lip.

harelip

/ ˈhɛəˌlɪp /

noun

1. a congenital cleft or fissure in the midline of the upper lip, resembling the cleft upper lip of a hare, often occurring with cleft palate Preferred form cleft lip

Sensitive Note

The term harelip is usually perceived as insulting because it compares the deformity in humans to the normal cleft lip of a hare. The accepted term for this medical condition is cleft lip.

Derived Forms

• ˈhareˌlipped, adjective

Other Words From

• harelipped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of harelip¹

First recorded in 1560–70; hare + lip

Example Sentences

Their romance is more awkward than whirlwind as he fears she will dislike him because of his severe harelip and recurring nightmares.

From Salon

There was the Brad, a master rigger of industrial cranes, whose gruff diatribes against bankers, bike lanes, hipsters, and “harelips” we surreptitiously recorded, for laughs.

From The New Yorker

It is Coetzee’s Michael K, with a harelip that so limits his speech that communication with him is virtually impossible.

From New York Times

Whenever somebody with a harelip or T.B. came into the place he would set him up to beer.

From Literature

“Lunch!” the little man with the almost harelip calls down the hall.

From Literature