harrier

har·ri·er ¹  (hr-r)

n.

1. One that harries.

2. Any of various slender, narrow-winged hawks of the genus Circus, such as the marsh hawk, that prey on small animals.

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[Sense 2, alteration (influenced by harry) of obsolete harrower, from harrow.]

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har·ri·er ²  (hr-r)

n.

1. Any of a breed of small hounds originally used in hunting hares and rabbits.

2. A cross-country runner.

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[Middle English hairer, eirer, possibly alteration (influenced by hair, hare, hare) of Old French errier, wanderer, from errer, to wander; see err.]

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harrier ¹

Noun

a cross-country runner [from hare]

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harrier ²

Noun

a bird of prey with broad wings and long legs and tail

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	harrier - a persistent attacker; "the harassers were not members of the regular army" harasser aggressor, assailant, assaulter, attacker - someone who attacks
	2.	harrier - a hound that resembles a foxhound but is smaller; used to hunt rabbits hound, hound dog - any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears
	3.	harrier - hawks that hunt over meadows and marshes and prey on small terrestrial animals hawk - diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail genus Circus, Circus - a genus of haws comprising the harriers Circus Aeruginosus, marsh harrier - Old World harrier frequenting marshy regions Circus pygargus, Montagu's harrier - brownish European harrier Circus cyaneus, hen harrier, marsh hawk, northern harrier - common harrier of North America and Europe; nests in marshes and open land