Harpies

Harpies
Harpy Har"py (h[aum]r"p[y^]), n.; pl. {Harpies} (-p[i^]z). [F. harpie, L. harpyia, Gr. "a`rpyia, from the root of "arpa`zein to snatch, to seize. Cf. {Rapacious}.] 1. (Gr. Myth.) A fabulous winged monster, ravenous and filthy, having the face of a woman and the body of a vulture, with long claws, and the face pale with hunger. Some writers mention two, others three. [1913 Webster]

Both table and provisions vanished quite. With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. One who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner. [1913 Webster]

The harpies about all pocket the pool. --Goldsmith. [1913 Webster]

3. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The European moor buzzard or marsh harrier ({Circus [ae]ruginosus}). (b) A large and powerful, double-crested, short-winged American eagle ({Thrasa["e]tus harpyia}). It ranges from Texas to Brazil. [1913 Webster]

{Harpy bat} (Zo["o]l.) (a) An East Indian fruit bat of the genus {Harpyia} (esp. {Harpyia cephalotes}), having prominent, tubular nostrils. (b) A small, insectivorous Indian bat ({Harpiocephalus harpia}).

{Harpy fly} (Zo["o]l.), the house fly. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Harpies —    From Greek mythology, these three ugly creatures have the head of an old woman, the body of a bird (whose feathers could not be pierced), large claws and they stink. They are also always hungry. The gods sometimes used them to punish criminals …   The writer's dictionary of science fiction, fantasy, horror and mythology

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  • HARPIES —    fabulous ravenous creatures, living in filth and defiling everything they touch, with the head and breast of a woman, the wings and claws of a bird, and a face pale with hunger, the personification of whirlwinds and storms, conceived of as… …   The Nuttall Encyclopaedia

  • Harpies — har·py || hÉ‘rpɪ / hɑːp n. mythological monster with the head of a woman and the body of a bird …   English contemporary dictionary

  • harpies — sharpie …   Anagrams dictionary

  • harpies — plural of harpy …   Useful english dictionary

  • Les Harpies — Harpies Pour les articles homonymes, voir Harpie. portrait d Harpies Dans la mythologie grecque ou romaine, les Harpies ou Harpyes …   Wikipédia en Français

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