Such a weak, watery, wicked old harridan, substituted for the pretty creature I had been used to see. --De Quincey. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
harridan — 1700, one that is half Whore, half Bawd [ Dictionary of the Canting Crew ]; a decayed strumpet [Johnson], probably from Fr. haridelle a poore tit, or leane ill favored jade, [Cotgrave, 1611], in French from 16c., of unknown origin … Etymology dictionary
harridan — ► NOUN ▪ a strict, bossy, or belligerent old woman. ORIGIN perhaps from French haridelle old horse … English terms dictionary
harridan — [har′i dən] n. [prob. altered < Fr haridelle, worn out horse, jade] a nasty, bad tempered woman, esp. an old one … English World dictionary
harridan — [[t]hæ̱rɪdən[/t]] harridans N COUNT (disapproval) If you call a woman a harridan, you mean that she is unpleasant and speaks too forcefully. [FORMAL] She was a mean old harridan … English dictionary
harridan — UK [ˈhærɪd(ə)n] / US [ˈherɪd(ə)n] noun [countable] Word forms harridan : singular harridan plural harridans offensive an insulting name for a woman who you think is unpleasant … English dictionary
harridan — noun Steve tried to scare us with stories of the evil harridan Miss Duffy, who in reality was the sweetest teacher in Coolidge Elementary Syn: shrew, termagant, virago, harpy, vixen, nag, hag, crone, dragon, ogress; fishwife, hellcat, she devil,… … Thesaurus of popular words
harridan — noun Etymology: perhaps modification of French haridelle old horse, gaunt woman Date: 1678 shrew 2 … New Collegiate Dictionary
harridan — /hahr i dn/, n. a scolding, vicious woman; hag; shrew. [1690 1700; perh. alter of F haridelle thin, worn out horse, large, gaunt woman (compared with the initial element of haras stud farm, though derivation is unclear)] Syn. nag, virago, scold.… … Universalium
harridan — noun /ˈhæɹ.ɪ.dən,ˈhɛɹ.ɪ.dən,ˈhæɹ.ɪ.dən/ A vicious and scolding woman, especially an older one … Wiktionary
harridan — Synonyms and related words: Jezebel, baboon, bad woman, bag, baggage, bitch, blemish, blot, broad, chippy, clitoromaniac, cocotte, dog, drab, easy lay, easy woman, eyesore, floozy, frail sister, fright, gargoyle, grisette, hag, hussy,… … Moby Thesaurus
