harelip
2 synonyms for harelip, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A congenital split in the upper lip, present from birth.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
cleft lip
cheiloschisis
How to use harelip
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
born with a harelip
correct a harelip
surgical repair of a harelip
Cleft lip is the term more commonly used in current medical writing.
Etymology
Harelip is a straightforward compound of hare and lip, formed because the split resembles the divided upper lip of a hare.
Full origin of harelip →Frequently asked questions
What does harelip mean?
It refers to a congenital split in the upper lip that a baby is born with.
Why is it called a harelip?
It is named after the hare because the split lip was thought to resemble a hare's mouth.
Is harelip the same as cleft lip?
Yes, cleft lip is a synonym for the same condition.
