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harridan

 - 2 dictionary results

har⋅ri⋅dan

[hahr-i-dn]
–noun
a scolding, vicious woman; hag; shrew.

Origin:
1690–1700; perh. alter of F haridelle thin, worn-out horse, large, gaunt woman (compared with the initial element of haras stud farm, though derivation is unclear)


nag, virago, scold.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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har·ri·dan   (hār'ĭ-dn)   
n.  A woman regarded as scolding and vicious.

[Possibly from French haridelle, gaunt woman, old horse, nag.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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