Etymology Dictionary

HARVEST,  the ingathering of crops, the produce of labour.  (E.)   Sometimes used in the sense of 'autumn;' see Wyclif, Jude, 12; Shak. Temp. iv. 116.   M.E. heruest (with u for v), P. Plowman, B. vi. 292, 301.—A.S. hærfest, autumn, Grein, ii. 24; the orig. sense being 'crop,' + Du. herfst, autumn. + Icel. haust, autumn (contracted form). + Dan. höst, harvest, crop (contr. form). + Swed. höst, autumn (contr. form). + G. herbst, autumn, harvest; M.H.G. herbest, O.H.G. herpist.   β. All with a suffix -as-ta from Teut. base harf-, equivalent to the base καρπ- of the cognate Gk. καρπός, fruit.—✔KARP, to seize; as in Lat. carp-ere, to pluck, gather.   γ. This root is perhaps related to ✔SKARP, to cut; see Sharp.   Der. harvest, verb; harvest-er; harvest-home, 1 Hen. IV, i. 3. 35; harvest-man, Cor. i. 3. 39; harvest-moon, harvest-time.   From the same root, ex-cerpt.