hoar

[ hawr, hohr ]

noun

1. hoarfrost; rime.
2. a hoary coating or appearance.

adjective

1. hoary.

hoar

/ hɔː /

noun

1. short for hoarfrost

adjective

1. rare.
   covered with hoarfrost
2. archaic.
   a poetic variant of hoary

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoar¹

before 900; Middle English hor, Old English hār; cognate with Old Norse hārr gray with age, Old Frisian hēr gray, Old High German hēr old ( German hehr august, sublime)

Word History and Origins

Origin of hoar¹

Old English hār; related to Old Norse hārr, Old High German hēr, Old Slavonic sěrǔ grey

Example Sentences

Bernadette Benz waited for a day with hoar frost before taking her picture called Frosted Silver Birch which won the Trees, Woods and Forests category.

From BBC

"This bear came in the early hours of the morning, so it was really hoar frost and covered," she said.

From BBC

There was hoar frost last night, and all of the bare branches are coated white and sparkling.

From Literature

After all, the Japanese poem style lends itself to spare reflections on nature, crystalline musings on blossoms, songbirds or hoar frost.

From Washington Post

But do you know your hoar frost from your rime?

From BBC