▪ I. harrow, n.1
(ˈhærəʊ)
Forms: 4 haru, harou, harewe, 4–5 harwe, 5–6 harow(e, 7 harrowe, 5– harrow.
[ME. harwe, answering to an OE. *hearwe or *hearᵹe: app. related to MLG. (MDu.) harke, Du. hark rake, also ON. herfi, hervi (Sw. harf, härf, Da. harv) harrow; but the form-relations are obscure, and the ulterior origin uncertain.]
1. A heavy frame of timber (or iron) set with iron teeth or tines, which is dragged over ploughed land to break clods, pulverize and stir the soil, root up weeds, or cover in the seed. Sometimes made in two halves, and then locally called the harrows.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 12388 For plogh and haru [v.rr. harwe, harou] cuth he dight. a 1350 Childh. Jesus 1365 (Mätz.) Ouȝht..þat scholde to harewe oþur to plouȝ, He couþe it wurchen. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xix. 268 Þise foure..harwed in an handwhile al holy scripture, Wyth two harwes þat þei hadde..Id est, vetus testamentum & nouum. [1393 C. xxii. 272 eythes.] a 1400–50 Alexander 1063 A harrow foreheld ouer with tyndez. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 228/2 Harowe [v.r. harwe], erpica. 1573 Tusser Husb. xvii. (1878) 37 A barlie rake toothed, with yron and steele, like paier of harrowes. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. i. (1586) 23 b, The Harrowe, is an instrument crosse lettused, to breake the Cloddes withall, and to cover the seedes. 1816 J. Smith Panorama Sc. & Art II. 626 The harrow is employed after the plough..to produce a more complete pulverization of the soil. 1897 N. & Q. 8th Ser. XI. 432/2 She was an adept at the management of cart and harrows. |
| fig. 1824–46 Landor Imag. Conv. Wks. II. 382 Under the harrow of affliction. |
b. With various defining words, as Berwickshire harrow, † back harrow; revolving harrow, a harrow of which the teeth are fixed on radiating arms, so as to revolve horizontally. Also brake (or break) harrow (brake n.3 4), bush harrow, chain-harrow (chain n. 19), etc.
| 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme 541 Breake the clods..and then with your back-harrowes runne ouer them againe. 1805 Forsyth Beauties Scotl. (1808) V. 420 Break⁓harrows and rollers are almost as yet confined to a few proprietors. 1826 Loudon Encycl. Agric. (1831) 414 The Berwickshire harrow is the most perfect implement of the kind in general use. |
c. Phrases and locutions.
| c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. II. 280 Cristene men may seye, as þe poete seiþ in prouerbe—þe frogge seide to þe harwe, cursid be so many lordis. 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §15 It is an olde sayinge, The oxe is neuer wo, tyll he to the harowe goo. 1802–12 Bentham Rationale of Evidence (1827) I. 385 note, Kept like toads under a harrow. 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (1826) xii. vii, Placed, and held, under the harrow. 1818 Scott Rob Roy xxvii, ‘Ower mony maisters, as the paddock said to the harrow, when every tooth gae her a tig.’ 1825 Jamieson s.v., To rin awa' with the harrows, applied to those who do not reason fairly; especially, when they go on..disregarding any thing that has already been said in reply. 1827 Scott Jrnl. (1890) II. 94 If I die in the harrows, as is very likely, I shall die with honour. 1889 Spectator 12 Oct., The Armenians and Cretans are already under the harrow. |
2. transf. A similar contrivance used for other purposes: see quots., and cf. hearse.
| 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. V, 48 b, They have imagined caltrappes, harowes and other new trickes to defende the force of the horsmen. 1611 Bible 1 Chron. xx. 3 Hee brought out the people..and cut them with sawes, and with harrowes of yron, and with axes. 1660 Jer. Taylor Duct. Dubit ii. ii. (R.), That David made the people of the Ammonites to pass under saws and harrows of iron is not safely imitable by Christian souldiers. |
† b. A kind of sledge: also harrow-sled. Obs.
| 15.. Tourn. Tottenham 203 in Hazl. Ritson's Songs (1877) 81 Sum broght gret harows Ther husbandes for to hom fech. 1552 Huloet, Harrowe sled, traha. |
c. In Fortification: see quot.
| 1788 Chambers's Cycl., Harrow, in Fortification, is a Gate made of timber, whose dimensions are commonly six by four inches, and six inches distant from each other, well fastened to three or four cross bars, and secured with iron. |
d. In Gold-mining: see quots.
| 1869 R. B. Smyth Goldf. Victoria Gloss. 613 Harrows are fixed to the pole of a puddling machine, and being dragged round, divide and mix the auriferous clays with water. 1888 F. Hume Mad. Midas i. v, The wash dirt being put into these, there was an iron ring held up by chains, having blunt spikes to it, which was called a harrow. |
3. A diagonal arrangement of soldiers; also of migratory fowl in the air.
| 1876 Holland Sevenoaks xii. 158 The wild geese flying over..had called to Jim..and he had looked up at the huge harrow scraping the sky. 1891 Cornh. Mag. Dec. 643 (temp. Edw. III) Let your men form a harrow on either side of the ridge. Ibid. 647 The four-deep harrow formation which gave strength to their array, and yet permitted every man to draw his arrow freely without harm to those in front. |
4. [From the verb.] The act of harrowing.
| 1871 R. Ellis Catullus lxiv. 13 Scarcely the wave foamed white to the reckless harrow of oarsmen. |
5. attrib. and Comb., as harrow-beam, harrow-maker, harrow-man, harrow-pin, harrow-tooth; harrow-shaped adj.; harrow-bull [see bull n.5], one of the pieces of wood which form the frame of the harrow; harrow-cultivator, a modification of the harrow supported on wheels; harrow-spindle, one of the ‘slots’ or crosspieces which are mortised through the ‘bulls’; harrow-tine († -tind) = harrow-tooth.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. § 15 An oxe-harowe, the whiche is made of sixe smal peces of timbre, called *harowe-bulles..in euery bull are syxe sharpe peces of yren, called harowe tyndes. 1616 Surfl. & Markh. Country Farme 662 Harrow⁓buls, Harrow-teeth. |
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 176/2 An Harow or a *harow maker, erpicarius. |
| 1826 Loudon Encycl. Agric. (1831) 528 The *harrow-man's attention..should be constantly directed to [etc.]. |
| 1530 Palsgr. 229/2 *Harowe pynne, cheuille de herse. |
| 1860 Pusey Min. Proph. 67 *Harrow-shaped planks, set with sharp stones. |
| 1641 Best Farm. Bks. (Surtees), The smallest sort of them for *harrowe-spindles. |
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 176/2 An *Harow toothe, paxillus. 1828 Scott F.M. Perth ii, Plough-graith and harrow-teeth! |
▪ II. harrow, n.2 dial.
= harre, hinge.
| 1528 MS. Acc. St. John's Hosp. Canterb., Paid for..ye harrow of a gate. 1863 Barnes Dorset Dial., Harrow of a gate, the backer upright timber of a gate by which it is hung to its post. |
▪ III. harrow, v.1
(ˈhærəʊ)
Forms: see harrow n.1
[f. harrow n.1: cf. mod.G. harken to rake, Sw. harfva, Da. harve to harrow.]
1. trans. To draw a harrow over; to break up, crush, or pulverize with a harrow. So harrow over. harrow in, to cover in (seed, etc.) by harrowing.
| a 1300 Cursor M. 21303 Þe toiþer he saus efter þe sede, Þe thrid it harus efter wit spede. 1377 [see harrow n.1 1]. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 228/2 Harwyn, erpico. 1530 Palsgr. 579/2 He that soweth his seedes must harowe the grounde by and by, for els the byrdes wyll eate it awaye. 1611 Bible Job xxxix. 10 Canst thou binde the Vnicorne with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleyes after thee? 1759 tr. Duhamel's Husb. i. ix. (1762) 52 Harrow over your ground, with a heavy wide-tooth'd harrow. 1772 T. Simpson Vermin-Killer 13 When the farmer sows his seed, before he harrows it in. 1834 Low Agric. (1847) 412 In a fortnight or more after planting, the whole field is to be harrowed. |
| fig. 1650 W. Brough Sacr. Princ. (1659) 482 To plow up thy heart, and harrow thy whole man. 1654 Trapp Comm. Ps. xv. 4 It is evill to sow reports and slanders but worse to harrow them in. |
b. absol.
| 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. vi. 19 Heggen oþer harwen oþer swyn oþer gees dryue. 1565–73 Durham Depos. (Surtees) 104 Harrawinge and sawinge upon a Sondaye. 1882 Ouida Maremma I. 3 They will..plough, and harrow, and sow. |
c. intr. (for pass.). Of land: To suffer harrowing; to turn out under the harrow.
| 1841 Jrnl. R. Agric. Soc. II. ii. 183 It [soil] never failed..to harrow down as mellow as possible. |
† d. back-harrow, bull-harrow: see quots. Obs.
| 1552 Huloet, Harrow corne when it is in grase, called back harrowe, pectino, sarrio. 1780 A. Young Tour Irel. II. 208 Bull harrow it, that is with harrows without teeth. |
† 2. transf. To cut through as a harrow; to ‘plough’ (the sea, etc.). Obs.
| 1583 Stanyhurst æneis i. (Arb.) 33 His launce staffe thee dust top turuye doth harrow. Ibid. iii. 76 The sea by our mariners with the oars cleene canted is harrowd. |
3. To tear, lacerate, wound (physically).
| 1633 T. Adams Exp. 2 Peter i. 16 The thorns harrowing his sacred head. 1735 Somerville Chase ii. 119 Th' impatient Rider..With galling Spurs harrows his mangled Sides. 1786 tr. Beckford's Vathek (1834) 67 Harrowing his cheeks with a few scratches. |
† b. To tear up. Obs.
| 1604 A. Scoloker Daiphantus (1880) 36 Ile haue reuenge, or harrow vp my will. |
4. To lacerate or wound the feelings of; to vex, pain, or distress greatly. (Rarely with up.)
| 1602 Shakes. Ham. i. i. 44 It harrowes me with fear and wonder. Ibid. i. v. 16, I could a Tale vnfold, whose lightest word Would harrow vp thy soule. c 1630 Sanderson Serm. II. 305 Our thoughts are so pulled and harrowed this way and that way. 1634 Milton Comus 565 Amaz'd I stood, harrow'd with grief and fear. 1735 Somerville Chase iv. 485 Th' ambitious Wretch, whose discontented Soul Is harrow'd Day and Night. 1816 Keatinge Trav. (1817) I. 152 Dreadful stories, whereby the minds of good people..are harrowed up. 1865 Merivale Rom. Emp. VIII. lxviii. 337 His gentle nature was harrowed by the misery around him. |
† b. To vex, disturb. Obs.
| 1609 Holland Amm. Marcell. xxi. x. 177 He [Julian] harrowed the memoriall [memoriam vexavit] of Constantine, as one that had beene a deviser of innovation. |
† 5. To castrate. Obs.
| 1753 Stewart's Trial 139 He wants to harrow him [a horse] this spring. Ibid. 179 At the harrowing. |
Hence ˈharrowed ppl. a., ˈharrowing vbl. n.
| 1523 Fitzherb. Husb. §12 As moche plowynge and harow⁓ynge. 1552 Huloet, Harrowed after the maner of backe harrowynge, pectitus. 1785 G. Washington Writ. (1891) XII. 225 After three ploughings and three harrowings, sowed millet. 1788 A. Falconbridge Afr. Slave Tr. 41 The harrowed parts of the back of the unoffending seaman. 1847 Disraeli Tancred ii. xvi, ‘I cannot leave her’, thought the harrowed Tancred. 1888 Athenæum 11 Aug. 189/3 The inevitable harrowing of the reader's feelings. |
▪ IV. harrow, v.2
(ˈhærəʊ)
Forms: 1 herᵹian, 3 herehen, herhen, 3–4 herȝen, 4 herwen, herewe, harwe, harrewe, haru, horu, 4–5 harewe, 4–6 harow(e, haro, 6 herow, 6– harrow.
[A by-form of harry v., OE. herᵹian, of which the pa. tense and pa. pple. herᵹode, herᵹod, and vbl. n. herᵹung regularly became in ME. herwede, herwed, herwyng, whence, by change of -er before cons. to -ar, and levelling, came ME. harwe, harowe, harrow.]
trans. To harry, rob, spoil. a. Used especially in the phrase to harrow hell, said of Christ.
| c 1000 [see harrowing below]. a 1225 St. Marher, 10 Þu herehedest helle. a 1300 Cursor M. 26026 Of hell it harus þe hard prisun. 13.. Sir Beues (MS. A.) 4469 Be him, þat herwede helle. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 326 By hym that harwed [v.rr. hariede, haried, harowed] helle. c 1500 How Plowman lerned Pater-Noster 39 in Hazl. E.P.P. I. 211, I byleve in Jhesu Cryste, Whiche suffred dethe and harowed hell. 1589 Hay any Work 39 Let him tell what our Sauiour Christ should do, if he did not harrow Hell. 1624 Bp. R. Montagu Gagg 218 This was before Christ harrowed Hell. 1625 Ussher Answ. Jesuit 374 Christ spoiled, or (as they were wont to speake) harrowed Hell. 1850 Neale Med. Hymns (1867) 168 Christ hath harrowed hell. |
b. In the general sense of harry v.
| 1606 J. Clapman Hist. Gt. Brit. i. iii. xvi. 142 These Picts..did oft-times harrow the borders. 1643 Prynne Sov. Power Parl. i. (ed. 2) 112 The County of Glocester, (which they have pitifully harrowed and spoiled). 1782 Sir W. Jones Speech Reform. Parl. Wks. 1799 VI. 719 They racked and harrowed the people. 1814 Scott Ld. of Isles v. xv, Long harrow'd by oppressor's hand. |
Hence ˈharrowed ppl. a.; ˈharrowing (OE. herᵹung) vbl. n., spoiling (of hell), also in general sense, plundering, sacking (of a country).
| c 1000 ælfric Hom. I. 228 Hell oncneow Crist, ðaða heo forlet hyre hæftlingas ut, þurh ðæs Hælendes herᵹunge. a 1450 Chester Pl. xvii. (Harl. MS. 2013) See that you doe well, In pagente sett out the harrowinge of helle. 1586 Warner Alb. Eng. i. vi, And then in harrowed Hell (Pyrithous buried) he nor she, nor Theseus longer dwell. 1599 Sandys Europæ Spec. (1632) 184 The harrowing and desolating of the Countrey. 1654 Cokaine Dianea iii. 234 He came to the harrowing of our Island. 1859 Wedgwood Dict. Eng. Etymol. s.v. Harry, The harrowing of hell was the triumphant expedition of Christ after his crucifixion, when he brought away the souls of the righteous who had..been held captive in hell since the beginning of the world. |
▪ V. † harrow, haro, int. Obs.
(ˈhærəʊ)
Forms: 4 harou, -ow, -awe, 4–6 harowe, harrowe, 4–7 harrow (5 a rowe), 5–7 harro, 6 harrok, haroll, 5– haro.
[a. OF. haro, harou, hareu, harol, harau, hero, of obscure origin. The popular notion, found already in 14th c., that the expression was ha Rou!, a call upon Rou, Raoul, or Rollo, duke of Normandy, is not consistent with the OF. forms of the word.]
1. A cry of distress or alarm; a call for succour. to cry harrow (on any one): to denounce (a person's) doings. Obs. since c 1600. (Modern instances are either after ME., or from mod.F.)
| 13.. Seuyn Sag. (W.) 480 Sche..gradde ‘Harow!’ with gret rage. 1340 Ayenb. 31 Hauanne þe man..nele arere þet heued to gode be zorȝe ne grede harou be ssrifte. c 1386 Chaucer Miller's T. 100 Lat be Nicholas Or I wol crie, out, harrow, and allas. ― Reeve's T. 152 Iohn..gan to crie harrow and weylaway Oure hors is lorn. 1413 Pilgr. Sowle (Caxton) i. vii. (1859) 6 Lete us cryen a rowe and oute upon them all! c 1460 Towneley Myst. (Surtees) 307 Oute, haro, out, out! harkyn to this horne. 1481 Caxton Reynard (Arb.) 66, I crye out harowe on them that so falsely haue belyed me. 1513 Douglas æneis xii. x. 126 Thai rent thar hair, with harrow, and allaik. 1525 Ld. Berners Froiss. II. clxxxviii. [clxxxiv.] 574 Out, harowe, what myschife is this. 1530 Palsgr. 501/2 My mother was afrayde there had ben theves in her house, and she kryed out haroll alarome. 1590 Spenser F.Q. ii. viii. 46 Harrow and well away! After so wicked deede why liv'st thou lenger day? a 1643 W. Cartwright Ordinary iii. i. in Hazl. Dodsley XII. 253 Harrow, alas! I swelt here as I go. [1863 Sala Capt. Dangerous II. iv. 133 You may cry Haro upon me for a Cynic. 1894 F. S. Ellis Reynard 208 Harowe! I cry on that vile crew.] |
‖ 2. In Law of Normandy and Channel Isles, in form haro!: see quots.
| 1682 Warburton Hist. Guernsey §43 (1822) 100 Clameur de Haro, is thus practised. When any man finds another entering upon his possessions..crying out three times haro, he in the king's name discharges any workmen..from proceeding or any person from employing them or others..afterwards he commences his action in the court. If he neglect so to do, then the person against whom the haro was cried, may..bring his action against him who cried haro. 1862 Ansted Channel Isl. iv. xxiii. (ed. 2) 539 Encroachments on property are sometimes met by a very peculiar exclamatory appeal, called ‘Ha! Ro!’ repeated thrice. It is considered to be the remains of an old appeal to Rollo, Duke of Normandy, and is followed by action. |
3. as n. The calling of harrow!; outcry.
| c 1440 York Myst. xxxi. 84 Þanne gete we some harrowe full hastely at hande. 1535 Stewart Cron. Scot. (1858) I. 124 Thair wes no thing bot harrok, how and cry. |