harrier

UK: /ˈhærɪə/ US: (har′ē ər)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

har•ri•er¹  (har′ē ər), n. 

1. a person who or thing that harries.
2. Birds any of several short-winged hawks of the genus Circus that hunt over meadows and marshes and prey on reptiles and small birds and mammals.
3. Military (cap.) a one- or two-seat British-American fighter, both an attack and a reconnaissance aircraft, featuring a turbofan engine with a directable thrust that enables it to land and take off vertically.

• harry + -er¹ 1550–60

har•ri•er²  (har′ē ər), n. 

1. Dog and Cat Breeds one of a breed of medium-sized hounds, used, usually in packs, in hunting.
2. Sport a cross-country runner.

• special use of harrier¹, by association with hare 1535–45

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

harrier / ˈhærɪə/ noun

1. a person or thing that harries
2. any diurnal bird of prey of the genus Circus, having broad wings and long legs and tail and typically preying on small terrestrial animals: family Accipitridae (hawks, etc)

harrier / ˈhærɪə/ noun

1. a smallish breed of hound used originally for hare-hunting
2. a cross-country runner

Etymology: 16th Century: from hare + -er¹; influenced by harrier¹