harelip

American  

[hair-lip] / ˈhɛərˌlɪp /

noun

1. Usually Offensive. cleft lip.

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harelip British  

/ 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

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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.

Other Word Forms

• harelipped adjective

Etymology

Origin of harelip

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

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

Jane Click’s son, Billy, had a friend, a shy child with a harelip.

From The New Yorker

He was a small, strong dude, and as we battled our way out, I noticed he had this harelip scar running from the center of his mouth up into his left nostril.

From Literature