Definition of "harrow"

harrow¹

/ˈhæɹəʊ/

noun
plural harrows
1. 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.
  Quotations
  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.
  1918, Louise & Aylmer Maude, Anna Karenina, Oxford, translation of original by Leo Tolstoy, published 1998, page 153
  “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.”
  1960, P. G. Wodehouse, Jeeves in the Offing, chapter X
  Part of your job would be to learn tractor ploughing and the use of planters, harrows, and cultivators.
  1969, Bessie Head, When Rain Clouds Gather, Heinemann, published 1995, page 28
2. (military) An obstacle formed by turning an ordinary harrow upside down, the frame being buried.
verb
third-person singular simple present harrows, present participle harrowing, simple past and past participle harrowed
1. (transitive) To drag a harrow over; to break up with a harrow.
  Quotations
  Will he harrow the valleys after thee?
  1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], Job 39:10
  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.
  1719 May 6 (Gregorian calendar), [Daniel Defoe], The Life and Strange Surprizing Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, […], 3rd edition, London: […] W[illiam] Taylor […], published 1719
2. (transitive) To traumatize or disturb; to frighten or torment.
  Quotations
  It harrows me with fear and wonder.
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene i]
  I could a Tale vnfold, vvhoſe lighteſt vvord / VVould harrovv vp thy ſoule, freeze thy young blood, / Make thy tvvo eyes like Starres, ſtart from their Spheres, / Thy knotty and combined locks to part, / And each particular haire to ſtand an end, / Like Quilles vpon the fretfull Porpentine: […]
  c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, [Act I, scene v], page 257, column 2
  The headless horseman harrowed Ichabod Crane as he tried to reach the bridge.
  1820, Washington Irving, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
3. (transitive) To break or tear, as if with a harrow; to wound; to lacerate; to torment or distress; to vex.
  Quotations
  my aged muscles harrow'd up with whips
  1707, Nicholas Rowe, The Royal Convert

harrow²

/ˈhæɹəʊ/

interjection
1. (obsolete) A call for help, or of distress, alarm etc.
  Quotations
  Harrow, the flames, which me consume (said hee) / Ne can be quencht, within my secret bowels bee.
  1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto VI”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie

Definition of "harrow"

harrow1

noun

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verb

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harrow2

interjection

Quotations

harrow¹

harrow²