| harmotome | <chemical> A hydrous silicate of alumina and baryta, occurring usually in white cruciform crystals; cross-stone. A related mineral, called lime harmotome, and Phillipsite, contains lime in place of baryta. Origin: Gr. A joint + to cut: cf. F. Harmotome. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| harness | 1. <zoology> An American bombycid moth (Arctia phalerata of Harris), having, on the fore wings, stripes and bands of buff on a black ground. 2. To dress in armor; to equip with armor for war, as a horseman; to array. "Harnessed in rugged steel." (Rowe) "A gay dagger, Harnessed well and sharp as point of spear." (Chaucer) 3. To make ready for draught; to equip with harness, as a horse. Also used figuratively. "Harnessed to some regular profession." (J. C. Shairp) Harnessed antelope. Origin: OE. Harneisen; cf. F. Harnacher, OF. Harneschier. (06 Mar 1998) |
| harness cask | A tub lashed to a vessel's deck and containing salted provisions for daily use. Synonym: harness tub. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| harp | 1. A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played with the fingers. 2. <astronomy> A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre. 3. <zoology> Harp seal, a beautiful marine gastropod shell of the genus Harpa, of several species, found in tropical seas. See Harpa. Origin: OE. Harpe, AS. Hearpe; akin to D. Harp, G.harfe, OHG. Harpha, Dan. Harpe. (06 Mar 1998) |
| harpa | <zoology> A genus of marine univalve shells; the harp shells; so called from the form of the shells, and their ornamental ribs. Origin: L, harp. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| harpaxophobia | <psychology> Morbid fear of robbers. Origin: G. Harpax, robber, + phobos, fear (05 Mar 2000) |
| harpoon | A spear or javelin used to strike and kill large fish, as whales; a harping iron. It consists of a long shank, with a broad, fiat, triangular head, sharpened at both edges, and is thrown by hand, or discharged from a gun. Harpoon fork, a kind of hayfork, consisting of bar with hinged barbs at one end a loop for a rope at the other end, used for lifting hay from the load by horse power. Harpoon gun, a gun used in the whale fishery for shooting the harpoon into a whale. Origin: F. Harpon, LL. Harpo, perh. Of Ger. Origin, fr. The harp; cf. F. Harper to take and grasp strongly, harpe a dog's claw, harpin boathook (the sense of hook coming from the shape of the harp); but cf. Also Gr. The kite, sickle, and E. Harpy. Cf. Harp. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| harpress | A female harper. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| harpy | 1. 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. "Both table and provisions vanished guite. With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard." (Milton) 2. One who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner. "The harpies about all pocket the pool." (Goldsmith) 3. <ornithology> The European moor buzzard or marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus). A large and powerful, double-crested, short-winged American eagle (Thrasaetus harpyia). It ranges from Texas to Brazil. 4. <zoology> Harpy bat, an East Indian fruit bat of the genus Harpyia (especially. H. Cerphalotes), having prominent, tubular nostrils. A small, insectivorous Indian bat (Harpiocephalus harpia). 5. <zoology> Harpy fly, the house fly. F. Harpie, L. Harpyia, Gr, from the root of to snatch, to seize. Gf. Rapacious. (06 Mar 1998) |
| harridan | A worn-out strumpet; a vixenish woman; a hag. "Such a weak, watery, wicked old harridan, substituted for the pretty creature I had been used to see." (De Quincey) Origin: F. Haridelle a worn-out horse, jade. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| harrier | 1. <zoology> One of a small breed of hounds, used for hunting hares. 2. <ornithology> One of several species of hawks or buzzards of the genus Circus which fly low and harry small animals or birds, as the European marsh harrier (Circus aerunginosus), and the hen harrier (Circus cyaneus). Harrier hawk, one of several species of American hawks of the genus Micrastur. Alternative forms: harier. Origin: From Hare. (06 Mar 1998) |
| Harrington | David O., U.S. Ophthalmologist, *1904. See: Harrington-Flocks test. (05 Mar 2000) |
| harrington rod insertion | <orthopaedics> A procedure that involves fusing together two or more vertebrae in the spine using either bone grafts or metal rods (Harrington rods). This procedure may be used to correct kyphosis or scoliosis. It is also used in those who require spine stabilisation due to vertebral damage from ruptures discs, fractures, osteomyelitis, osteoarthritis or tumour. (27 Sep 1997) |
| Harrington-Flocks test | A rapid screening test for visual field defects; patterns are viewed tachistoscopically, and the patterns are visible only when illuminated by a flash of ultraviolet light. Not available since 1970. (05 Mar 2000) |
| harringtonines | <chemical> Substances isolated from the seeds of cephalotaxus harringtonia, var. Drupacea. They are esters of the alkaloid cephalotaxine and may be effective as antineoplastic agent. Pharmacological action: antineoplastic agent, phytogenic. (12 Dec 1998) |