haggard
UK[ˈhæɡəd]US[ˈhæɡərd]
adj
looking exhausted and unwell, especially from fatigue, worry, or suffering.
adj
(of a hawk) caught for training as a wild adult.
Etymology
the word "haggard" has a fascinating journey from the specific to the general. it entered english in the mid-16th century as a falconry term from the french "hagard", meaning a wild hawk caught as an adult. the french term is likely of germanic origin, possibly related to the middle high german "hag" meaning hedge or enclosure, suggesting a bird from the hedges or wild land. the key semantic shift occurred because a wild-caught adult hawk was difficult to tame, resulting in a gaunt, untamed, and wild-eyed appearance. this visual characteristic of the bird was then metaphorically extended to describe any person who looks wild, gaunt, and exhausted from strain, which is its primary modern meaning.
Analysis
the word is a simplex form. it entered english as a whole unit from french, with its ultimate origin likely in germanic languages.
Examples
after weeks of traveling with little sleep, his face looked haggard and pale.
she had a haggard expression from the long hours spent caring for her newborn.
the rescue workers emerged from the disaster site, their faces haggard with fatigue and sorrow.