Etymology Dictionary

HARANGUE,  a popular address.  (F.,—O.H.G.)   In Milton, P. L. xi. 663.—O.F. harangue, 'an oration,... set speech, long tale;' Cot.   Cf. Span. arenga, Ital. aringa, arringa, an harangue.   β. The Ital. aringa signifies a speech made from an aringo, which Florio explains by 'a pulpit;' aringo also meant an arena, lists, and prob. a hustings.   The more lit. sense is a speech made in the midst of a ring of people.—O.H.G. hring (mod. G. ring), a ring, a ring of people, an arena, circus, lists; cognate with E. ring and circus.   See Ring, Circus.   ¶ The vowel a (for i) reappears in the sb. rank; see Rank, Range.   The prefix ha- in F., and a- in Span. and Ital., are due to the G. h-, now dropped.   Der. harangue, verb, Butler, Hudibras, pt. iii. c. 2. l. 438.