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 person or thing that harries
2. 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

Harrier

²

/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

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

harrier

³

/ ˈhærɪə /

noun

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

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

More than 1,300 protected birds of prey – from hen harriers to golden eagles - have been killed across the UK over the past 15 years, according to the RSPB.

From BBC

The findings bolster the idea that humans evolved to be hunting harriers, says Daniel Lieberman, an evolutionary biologist at Harvard University.

From Science Magazine

The charity said eight, satellite-tagged hen harriers had been illegally killed or suspiciously disappeared from the Yorkshire Dales in the last year.

From BBC

It has 20% of the UK's hen harriers, 11% of its breeding seabirds and vital populations of curlew, lapwing, and oystercatcher.

From BBC

More vegetation along the wetlands means better nesting for mallards, northern harrier hawks and other species.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• hurdler
• marathoner
• racer
• sprinter