# hart

/ˈhɑɹt/ (US) · /hˈɑːt/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hart
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

an adult male deer, especially a red deer that is more than five years old. This is an old-fashioned word you mostly see in history books or stories about kings and forests.

For teachers: a male red deer, specifically one over five years of age. Archaic in register; primarily encountered in heraldry, medieval literature, or historical legal contexts.

## Examples

- The king hunted a large hart in the royal forest.
- In the tapestry, a majestic hart stands near a stream while hunters approach from the distance.
- The medieval poem uses the image of a wounded hart as a metaphor for the knight's spiritual exhaustion and his search for divine grace.

## Usage notes

- Often used in historical or poetic contexts; largely replaced by 'stag' in modern biological or general descriptions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.