harridan
[hahr-i-dn]
noun
a scolding, vicious woman; hag; shrew.
Nearby words
- harpy eagle,
- harquebus,
- harquebusier,
- harrar,
- harrer,
- harrier,
- harriet,
- harrietta,
- harriman,
- harriman, edward henry
Origin of harridan
1690–1700; perhaps alteration of French haridelle thin, worn-out horse, large, gaunt woman (compared with the initial element of haras stud farm, though derivation is unclear)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for harridan
harridan
noun
Word Origin for harridan
C17: of uncertain origin; perhaps related to French haridelle, literally: broken-down horse; of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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harridan
1700, "one that is half Whore, half Bawd" ["Dictionary of the Canting Crew"]; "a decayed strumpet" [Johnson], probably from French haridelle "a poore tit, or leane ill-favored jade," [Cotgrave, 1611], in French from 16c., of unknown origin.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper