Dictionary-Definition.com :: Harrow definition

Definition of 'harrow'

noun

A cultivator that pulverizes or smooths the soil

verb

Draw a harrow over (land) [syn: harrow, disk]

From: GCIDE

Harrow \Har"row\ (h[a^]r"r[-o]), n. [OE. harowe, harwe, AS. hearge; cf. D. hark rake, G. harke, Icel. herfi harrow, Dan. harve, Sw. harf. [root]16.]
1. An implement of agriculture, usually formed of pieces of timber or metal crossing each other, and set with iron or wooden teeth. It is drawn over plowed land to level it and break the clods, to stir the soil and make it fine, or to cover seed when sown. [1913 Webster]
2. (Mil.) An obstacle formed by turning an ordinary harrow upside down, the frame being buried. [1913 Webster]
Bush harrow, a kind of light harrow made of bushes, for harrowing grass lands and covering seeds, or to finish the work of a toothed harrow.
Drill harrow. See under 6th Drill.
Under the harrow, subjected to actual torture with a toothed instrument, or to great affliction or oppression. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Harrow \Har"row\, interj. [OF. harau, haro; fr. OHG. hara, hera, herot, or fr. OS. herod hither, akin to E. here.] Help! Halloo! An exclamation of distress; a call for succor; -- the ancient Norman hue and cry. "Harrow and well away!" --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Harrow! alas! here lies my fellow slain. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Harrow \Har"row\, v. t. [See Harry.] To pillage; to harry; to oppress. [Obs.] --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Meaning thereby to harrow his people. --Bacon [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Harrow \Har"row\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Harrowed (h[a^]r"r[-o]d); p. pr. & vb. n. Harrowing.] [OE. harowen, harwen; cf. Dan. harve. See Harrow, n.]
1. To draw a harrow over, as for the purpose of breaking clods and leveling the surface, or for covering seed; as, to harrow land. [1913 Webster]
Will he harrow the valleys after thee? --Job xxxix. 10. [1913 Webster]
2. To break or tear, as with a harrow; to wound; to lacerate; to torment or distress; to vex. [1913 Webster]
My aged muscles harrowed up with whips. --Rowe. [1913 Webster]
I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Harrow (Heb. harits), a tribulum or sharp threshing sledge; a frame armed on the under side with rollers or sharp spikes (2 Sam. 12:31; 1 Chr. 20:3).
Heb. verb _sadad_, to harrow a field, break its clods (Job 39:10; Isa. 28:4; Hos. 10: 11). Its form is unknown. It may have resembled the instrument still in use in Egypt.