Harpy

[ hahr-pee ]

noun

, plural Har·pies.

1. Classical Mythology. a ravenous, filthy monster having a woman's head and a bird's body.
2. (lowercase) a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman; shrew.
3. (lowercase) a greedy, predatory person.

harpy

¹

/ ˈhɑːpɪ /

noun

1. a cruel grasping woman

Harpy

²

/ ˈhɑːpɪ /

noun

1. Greek myth a ravenous creature with a woman's head and trunk and a bird's wings and claws

Other Words From

• harpy·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Harpy¹

< Latin Harpȳia, singular of Harpȳiae < Greek Hárpȳiai (plural), literally, snatchers, akin to harpázein to snatch away

Word History and Origins

Origin of Harpy¹

C16: from Latin Harpyia, from Greek Harpuiai the Harpies, literally: snatchers, from harpazein to seize

Example Sentences

She turned upon the intruder with a curse, but Azalea had been right in believing that gold would loosen the old harpy's tongue.

From Project Gutenberg

A feather duster was stuck in for a tail, and his woolly head gave him the uncanny look of a black harpy.

From Project Gutenberg

There was the whole crew of the Harpy sloop, taken off here, treated in that way—that I know of to a certainty.

From Project Gutenberg

And the little girl struck and scratched and made a curdled face and echoed, “Harpy, your own self!”

From Project Gutenberg

"That harpy hopes to fleece us," said Dalrymple, slipping his arm through mine and drawing me towards the roulette table.

From Project Gutenberg