hoary

The word "hoary" originates from Old English hār, meaning "gray" or "old," which is related to Old Norse hárr and German hehr (noble, venerable). The suffix -y transforms it into an adjective, emphasizing the quality of being gray or aged. Over time, "hoary" evolved to describe not just physical whiteness (e.g., hoary frost) but also figurative antiquity or overfamiliarity (e.g., a hoary joke). The root hoar survives in archaic terms like "hoarfrost," preserving its original connection to frost’s whitish appearance.