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.

[Sense 2, alteration (influenced by HARRY) of obsolete harrower, from HARROW².]

1. Any of a breed of small hounds originally used in hunting hares and rabbits.
2. A cross-country runner.

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.