Harp, härp, n. a musical stringed instrument much esteemed by the ancients.—v.i. to play on the harp: to dwell tediously upon anything.—v.t. to give voice to.—ns. Harp′er, Harp′ist, a player on the harp.—n.pl. Harp′ings (naut.), the fore-parts of the wales surrounding the bow extensions of the rib-bands.—n. Harp′-shell, a genus of gasteropodous molluscs with inflated shell.—Harp on one string, to dwell constantly on one topic. [A.S. hearpe; Ger. harfe.]
Harpoon, här-pōōn′, n. a dart for striking and killing whales.—v.t. to strike with the harpoon.—ns. Harpoon′er, Harpooneer′, one who uses a harpoon; Harpoon′-gun, a gun from which a harpoon or toggle-iron may be discharged. [Fr. harpon—harpe, a clamp—L. harpa, Gr. harpē, sickle.]
Harpsichord, härp′si-kord, n. an old-fashioned keyed musical instrument, where the sound is produced by the twitching of the strings by a piece of crow-quill or hard leather. [O. Fr. harpechorde.]
Harpy, här′pi, n. (myth.) a rapacious and filthy monster, with the body of a woman and the wings, feet, and claws of a bird of prey, considered as a minister of the vengeance of the gods: (her.) a vulture with the head and breast of a woman: a South American eagle, larger than the golden eagle, and of great strength and rapacity: a rapacious person. [L. harpyia—Gr., pl. harpyiai, 'snatchers,' symbols of the storm-wind—harpazein, to seize.]
Harquebus, Harquebuse, Harquebuss, här′kwi-bus, n. Same as Arquebuse.
Harridan, har′i-dan, n. a vixenish old woman. [Prob. O. Fr. haridelle, a lean horse, a jade.]
Harrier, har′i-ėr, n. a small kind of dog with a keen smell, for hunting hares: (pl.) a name taken by some clubs of cross-country runners (see Hare-and-hounds). [Formed from hare, like graz-i-er.]
Harrovian, har-ō′vi-an, adj. pertaining to Harrow.—n. one educated at the public school there.
Harrow, har′ō, n. a frame of wood or iron toothed with spikes for smoothing and pulverising ploughed land, and for covering seeds sown.—v.t. to draw a harrow over: to harass: to tear.—adj. Harr′owing, acutely distressing to the mind.—adv. Harr′owingly.—n. Chain′-harr′ow, a harrow composed of rings for breaking clods of earth.—Under the harrow, in distress or anxiety. [A.S. hearge; cf. Ice. herfi, Dan. harv.]
Harrow. See Haro.