harridan
pronunciation
How to pronounce harridan in British English:
UK [ˈhærɪdən]
How to pronounce harridan in American English:
US [ˈhærɪdn]
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- Noun:
- a scolding (even vicious) old woman
Word Origin
- harridan (n.)
- 1700, "one that is half Whore, half Bawd" ["Dictionary of the Canting Crew"]; "a decayed strumpet" [Johnson], probably from French haridelle "a poore tit, or leane ill-favored jade," [Cotgrave's French-English dictionary, 1611], attested in French from 16c., a word of unknown origin.
Example
- 1. Homer 's epic is not just composed of harridan wives and brave men .
- 2. He 's got an absolute harridan of a mother-in-law .
- 3. And this old harridan will help you how ?
- 4. Harridan ! You 'll see no mercy from me .
- 5. How , from a jolly , affectionate person she had become a harridan , constantly nagging at him to improve himself .