ArcaMax

It's "H" hour! Can you choose the correct derivation for each word beginning with "h"?

1. harbinger: A. a corruption of "messenger" B. a variation of "bringer" C. from the French word for a lodger D. a contraction of "hearty binger," referring to the warning signs of alcoholism

2. halo: A. from the Greek for a threshing floor, where oxen walked in a circle B. a variation of "holy" C. a variation of "hallow" D. a contraction of "half light" because often only its top half is shown in paintings

3. hurricane: A. from the word for a severe tropical storm in Taino, a Caribbean language B. derived from "hurry the cane" because its winds rushed through the sugar cane on tropical islands C. from the fierce Roman general Hurricanus D. from the mythological strongman Hercules

4. henchman: A. a variant of "haunchman," who stood by the leader's haunch or side B. from "hen man" because he kept the leader's followers in line like chicks C. a fusion of "hemp" and "lynch" because a henchman often hanged a leader's enemies D. from the Middle English "hengestam," meaning a horseman or groom

5. harass: A. from "hurry" B. from the Old French "harer," to set a dog on C. from "harry," meaning to assault, urge along D. from "harrow," meaning to torment, vex

6. horseradish: A. because horses like to eat them B. because they smell like horses C. because one meaning of "horse" is rough, coarse D. because they're shaped like a horse's ear

Answers:

1. C. "Harbinger" comes from the Old French "herbergere" (lodger), because a "herbergere" was a person who traveled ahead of a royal party or army to arrange lodgings for them.

2. A. This word for the circular path of the oxen was extended to mean a disk, then to mean the disks of the sun and moon and eventually to denote the circle of light around a holy personage.

3. A. "Hurricane" derives from the Taino word "hurakan," based on "hura," wind.

4. D. "Hengestam," originally meaning someone who took care of a leader's horse, became "henchman," which came to mean any trusted follower.

5. B. "Harer" comes from the Old French "hare," a command inciting dogs to attack.

6. C. The adjective "horse" can denote a version of something that's rough, large or coarse, as in "horseplay," "horse laugh" and "horse chestnut."

As Mr. Ed might have sung, "A horse is so coarse -- of course, of course!"

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