Part 719

Har`i*o*la"tion (hr`**l"shn), n. [See Ariolation.] Prognostication; soothsaying. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Har"ish (h‚r"sh), a. Like a hare. [R.] Huloet.

Hark (h‰rk), v. i. [OE. herken. See Hearken.] To listen; to hearken. [Now rare, except in the imperative form used as an interjection, Hark! listen.] Hudibras.

Hark away! Hark back! Hark forward! (Sporting), cries used to incite and guide hounds in hunting. -- To hark back, to go back for a fresh start, as when one has wandered from his direct course, or made a digression.

He must have overshot the mark, and must hark back.

Haggard.

He harked back to the subject.

W. E. Norris.

Hark"en (-'n), v. t. & i. To hearken. Tennyson.

Harl (h‰rl), n. [Cf. OHG. harluf noose, rope; E. hards refuse of flax.] 1. A filamentous substance; especially, the filaments of flax or hemp.

2. A barb, or barbs, of a fine large feather, as of a peacock or ostrich, -- used in dressing artificial flies. [Written also herl.]

Harle (h‰rl), n. (Zoˆl.) The red-breasted merganser.

Har"lech group` (h‰r"lk grp`). [So called from Harlech in Wales.] (Geol.) A minor subdivision at the base of the Cambrian system in Wales.

Har"le*quin (h‰r"l*kn or -kwn), n. [F. arlequin, formerly written also harlequin (cf. It, arlecchino), prob. fr. OF. hierlekin, hellequin, goblin, elf, which is prob. of German or Dutch origin; cf. D. hel hell. Cf. Hell, Kin.] A buffoon, dressed in party-colored clothes, who plays tricks, often without speaking, to divert the bystanders or an audience; a merry-andrew; originally, a droll rogue of Italian comedy. Percy Smith.

As dumb harlequin is exhibited in our theaters.

Johnson.

Harlequin bat (Zoˆl.), an Indian bat (Scotophilus ornatus), curiously variegated with white spots. -- Harlequin beetle (Zoˆl.), a very large South American beetle (Acrocinus longimanus) having very long legs and antennÊ. The elytra are curiously marked with red, black, and gray. -- Harlequin cabbage bug. (Zoˆl.) See Calicoback. -- Harlequin caterpillar. (Zoˆl.), the larva of an American bombycid moth (EuchÊtes egle) which is covered with black, white, yellow, and orange tufts of hair. -- Harlequin duck (Zoˆl.), a North American duck (Histrionicus histrionicus). The male is dark ash, curiously streaked with white. -- Harlequin moth. (Zoˆl.) See Magpie Moth. -- Harlequin opal. See Opal. -- Harlequin snake (Zoˆl.), a small, poisonous snake (Elaps fulvius), ringed with red and black, found in the Southern United States.

Har"le*quin (h‰r"l*kn or -kwn), v. i. To play the droll; to make sport by playing ludicrous tricks.

Har"le*quin, v. t. To remove or conjure away, as by a harlequin's trick.

And kitten, if the humor hit Has harlequined away the fit.

M. Green.

Har"le*quin*ade` (-d`), n. [F. arlequinade.] A play or part of a play in which the harlequin is conspicuous; the part of a harlequin. Macaulay.

Har"lock (h‰r"lk), n. Probably a corruption either of charlock or hardock. Drayton.

Har"lot (-lt), n. [OE. harlot, herlot, a vagabond, OF. harlot, herlot, arlot; cf. Pr. arlot, Sp. arlote, It. arlotto; of uncertain origin.] 1. A churl; a common man; a person, male or female, of low birth. [Obs.]

He was a gentle harlot and a kind.

Chaucer.

2. A person given to low conduct; a rogue; a cheat; a rascal. [Obs.] Chaucer.

3. A woman who prostitutes her body for hire; a prostitute; a common woman; a strumpet.