1580s, from Latin haruspex (plural haruspices) "soothsayer by means of entrails," first element from PIE *ghere- "gut, entrail" (see yarn); second element from Latin spic- "beholding, inspecting," from PIE *speks "he who sees," from root *spek- "to observe" (see scope (n.1)). The practice is Etruscan. Related: Haruspical; haruspication.