hardishrew Now local.
(ˈhɑːdɪʃruː)
Also 7 hardyshrew, hardshrew, 9 (dial.) hardistraw, hardistrow.
[app. f. hardy a. + shrew.]
A name variously applied to the field-mouse, harvest-mouse, and shrew-mouse.
| 1601 Holland Pliny I. 234 In Italy the hardy shrews are venomous in their biting. 1656 W. D. tr. Comenius' Gate Lat. Unl. ¶193 The Rat, Hardshrew, and whole herd of mice, enemies to corn. 1686 Plot Staffordsh. 222 A Hardishrew or Nursrow (as they here call them,) i.e. a field-mouse. 1847–78 Halliwell, Hardishrew, a field-mouse. Staff. Also called the hardistraw. 1882 W. Worcestersh. Gloss., Hardishrew, The field-mouse; also Hardistraw. 1884 Upton Gloss., Hardistrow, a shrew-mouse. |