harrier

¹

[ har-ee-er ]

noun

1. a person who or thing that harries.
2. any of several short-winged hawks of the genus Circus that hunt over meadows and marshes and prey on reptiles and small birds and mammals.
3. Harrier, Military. a one- or two-seat British-American fighter, both an attack and a reconnaissance aircraft, featuring a turbofan engine with a directable thrust that enables it to land and take off vertically.

harrier

²

[ har-ee-er ]

noun

1. one of a breed of medium-sized hounds, used, usually in packs, in hunting.
2. a cross-country runner.

Harrier

¹

/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

1. a British subsonic multipurpose military jet plane capable of vertical takeoff and landing by means of vectoring the engine thrust

harrier

²

/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

1. a smallish breed of hound used originally for hare-hunting
2. a cross-country runner

harrier

³

/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

1. a person or thing that harries
2. See Montagu's harrier, marsh harrier
   any diurnal bird of prey of the genus Circus, having broad wings and long legs and tail and typically preying on small terrestrial animals: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc) See also marsh harrier Montagu's harrier

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrier¹

First recorded in 1550–60; harry + -er ¹

Origin of harrier²

1535–45; special use of harrier ¹, by association with hare

Word History and Origins

Origin of harrier¹

C16: from hare + -er ¹; influenced by harrier ¹

Example Sentences

But to do VL, the engine thrust must be pointed straight downward, and the jet is twice the size of a Harrier.

From The Daily Beast

Remember the Harrier jump jet, the vertical takeoff and landing craft the British designed and Hollywood made famous?

From The Daily Beast

But Jack Metcalf had more natural taste for the cry of a hound or a harrier than for the squeak of his fiddle.

From Project Gutenberg

Edward Henry pursued lightly, for though he appreciated Mr. Harrier, he also despised him.

From Project Gutenberg

Then it happened that the harrier Gonzalo thought most of, having bought him for a high price in England, misbehaved himself.

From Project Gutenberg

Besides the crows and fish-hawks, a harrier would now and then come skimming close along the grass.

From Project Gutenberg

But there is one bird that most certainly will be seen in the “harrier-country,” and that is the heron.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• hurdler
• marathoner
• racer
• sprinter