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Old Harry

American  

noun

  1. Older Use. the devil; Satan.


Old Harry British  

noun

  1. informal a jocular name for Satan

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Old Harry

First recorded in 1730–40

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The diver, who had been in the sea close to Old Harry Rocks near Swanage, was reported missing on Tuesday at about 18:00 BST.

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2024

The holidaymaker, from Bristol, set off with his 16-year-old son on a journey from Studland Bay to Old Harry Rocks on the afternoon of 3 July.

From BBC • Sep. 7, 2023

Nonetheless, Byrd won with a plurality of less than 2% , a startling contrast to the massive margins Old Harry used to pile up �when he faced any opposition at all.

From Time Magazine Archive

Some Byrd advisers suggested bluntly that Robertson, who was never an important figure in the combine, should follow Old Harry into voluntary retirement.

From Time Magazine Archive

The wind came on to blow harder'n ever, an' pretty soon the sea she just picked up the ship an' hauled her off and—crickety-crack!—she went slam-bang to pieces on the Old Harry Shoals.

From Grenfell: Knight-Errant of the North by Waldo, Fullerton

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