mid-15c., arang, Scottish (in English from c.1600), from Middle French harangue (14c.), from Italian aringo "public square, platform," from a Germanic source ultimately from or including Proto-Germanic *ring "circular gathering" (see ring, n.1). Perhaps it is ultimately from Gothic *hriggs (pronounced "hrings"), with the first -a- inserted to ease Romanic pronunciation of Germanic hr- (see hamper, n.). But Barnhart suggests a Germanic compound, hari-hring "circular gathering," literally "army-ring."

1650s, from French haranguer, from Middle French harangue (see harangue, n.). Related: Harangued; haranguing.