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Harry

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Old Harry. Old Scratch. To harry (Saxon) is to tear in pieces, whence our harrow. There is an ancient pamphlet entitled The Harrowing of Hell. I do not think it is a corruption of “Old Hairy,” although the Hebrew Seirim (hairy ones) is translated devils in Lev. xvii. 7, and no doubt alludes to the he-goat, an object of worship with the Egyptians. Moses says the children of Israel are no longer to sacrifice to devils (seirim), as they did in Egypt. There is a Scandinavian Hari = Baal or Bel.

 

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.

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Harpagon (A)
Harpalice
Harpe
Harpies
Harpocrates
Harridan
Harrier
Harrington
Harris
Harry (To) = to harass
Harry
Harry Soph
Hart
Hart Royal
Hart of Grease (A)
Harts
Hartnet
Harum Scarum
Haruspex (pl. haruspicēs)
Harvard College
Harvest Goose

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Old Harry