harpy

Etymology

French harpie, Latin harpyia, from Ancient Greek ἅρπυια (hárpuia, literally “snatcher”), from ἁρπάζω (harpázō, “I snatch, seize”). Compare rapacious.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈhɑɹpi/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈhɑːpi/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(r)pi
• Hyphenation: har‧py

Noun

harpy (plural harpies)

1. A fabulous winged monster, ravenous and filthy, having the face of a woman and the body of a vulture.
   • Milton

     Both table and provisions vanished quite,
     With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard.

2. A shrewish woman.
   • 1927, Edgar Rice Burrows, The Outlaw of Torn‎, HTML edition, The Gutenberg Project, published 2008:

     But her most subtle wiles proved ineffectual in ridding her, even for a moment, of her harpy jailer […]

3. One who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner.
   • Goldsmith

     The harpies about all pocket the pool.

4. The European moor buzzard or marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus).
5. A large and powerful double-crested, short-winged American eagle (Harpia harpyja).