Hard pushed. See “[Hard up].”
Hard-shell Baptists. The American term for the hard and strait-laced sect of Baptists; corresponding to that which in England is designated the “Particular Baptists.”
Hard up. The allusion is to being pushed hard by circumstances into a tight corner.
Harem. Expresses the Arabic for “Sacred Spot.”
Harewood Square. From the town house of the Earls of Harewood.
Harlequin. From the Italian arlechino, a satirist, a jester.
Harlequinade. The comic scenes of a pantomime. In the original form of this entertainment the Harlequinade was by far the longer portion, and the principal character was Harlequin, the lover of Columbine. To his ingenuity in evading the clown and pantaloon, and confusing them by wondrous changeful tricks brought about by his magic wand, the success of the good old English pantomime was due. Speaking clowns did not come into existence before the days of Grimaldi.
Harley Street. After Edward Harley, Earl of Oxford and Mortimer, the ground landlord.
Harmonium. From the sustained harmonies produced on this wind instrument by means of the keys and finger-board.
Harold Harefoot. Harold I., the Saxon King of England, surnamed “Harefoot” because he was fleet of foot as a hare.