harrow
/ˈhæɹoʊ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.08 in modern English
12
Scrabble Score
6
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A device consisting of a heavy framework having several disks or teeth in a row, which is dragged across ploughed land to smooth or break up the soil, to remove weeds or cover seeds; a harrow plow.
name
A town in northwestern Greater London, England, historically in the county of Middlesex.
name
A London borough of Greater London, England.
Example Sentences
- "He sent for the carpenter, who was under contract to be with the threshing-machine, but it turned out that he was mending the harrows, which should have been mended the week before Lent."
- "“It may be fun for her,” I said with one of my bitter laughs, “but it isn't so diverting for the unfortunate toads beneath the harrow whom she plunges so ruthlessly in the soup.”"
- "Part of your job would be to learn tractor ploughing and the use of planters, harrows, and cultivators."
- "Will he harrow the valleys after thee?"
- "When the corn was sown, I had no harrow, but was forced to go over it myself, and drag a great heavy bough of a tree over it, to scratch it, as it may be called, rather than rake or harrow it."
- "It harrows me with fear and wonder."
Etymology
From Middle English harwe, harow, from Old English *hearwa (perhaps ultimately cognate with harvest), or from Old Norse harfr/herfi; compare Danish harve (“harrow”), Dutch hark (“rake”). Akin to Latin carpere. According to the OED, the verb senses are partly derived from the noun sense, partly from a by-form of the verb harry, itself from Old English hergian.
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈhæɹoʊ/
- British English: /ˈhæɹəʊ/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
disc harrow
power harrow
rest-harrow
ridge harrow
road harrow
spring-tooth harrow
harrowing of hell
harrow up
Frequently Paired Words
spring-tooth harrow