[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

harpy \har"py\ haumr"py^, n.; pl. harpies -pi^z. f.
   harpie, l. harpyia, gr. "a`rpyia, from the root of "arpa`zein
   to snatch, to seize. cf. rapacious.
   1. gr. myth. a fabulous winged monster, ravenous and
      filthy, having the face of a woman and the body of a
      vulture, with long claws, and the face pale with hunger.
      some writers mention two, others three.
      1913 webster

            both table and provisions vanished quite.
            with sound of harpies' wings and talons heard.
                                                  --milton.
      1913 webster

   2. one who is rapacious or ravenous; an extortioner.
      1913 webster

            the harpies about all pocket the pool. --goldsmith.
      1913 webster

   3. zool.
      a the european moor buzzard or marsh harrier circus
          aeruginosus.
      b a large and powerful, double-crested, short-winged
          american eagle thrasa"etus harpyia. it ranges
          from texas to brazil.
          1913 webster

   harpy bat zool.
      a an east indian fruit bat of the genus harpyia esp.
          harpyia cephalotes, having prominent, tubular
          nostrils.
      b a small, insectivorous indian bat harpiocephalus
          harpia.

   harpy fly zool., the house fly.
      1913 webster harquebus
see also:
harpies rapacious circus aeruginosus thrasa"etus harpyia harpy bat harpyia 
harpyia cephalotes harpiocephalus harpia harpy fly 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

harrier \har"rier\, n. from harry.
   1. one who harries.
      1913 webster

   2. zool. one of several species of hawks or buzzards of the
      genus circus which fly low and harry small animals or
      birds, -- as the european marsh harrier circus
      aeruginosus, and the hen harrier circus cyaneus.
      1913 webster

   harrier hawk zool., one of several species of american
      hawks of the genus micrastur.
      1913 webster
see also:
harry circus circus aeruginosus circus cyaneus harrier hawk micrastur 

[3] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

marsh \marsh\, n. oe. mersch, as. mersc, fr. mere lake. see
   mere pool, and cf. marish, morass.
   a tract of soft wet land, commonly covered partially or
   wholly with water; a fen; a swamp; a morass. written also
   marish.
   1913 webster

   marsh asphodel bot., a plant nartheeium ossifragum
      with linear equitant leaves, and a raceme of small white
      flowers; -- called also bog asphodel.

   marsh cinquefoil bot., a plant potentilla palustris
      having purple flowers, and found growing in marshy places;
      marsh five-finger.

   marsh elder. bot.
   a the guelder-rose or cranberry tree viburnum opulus.
   b in the united states, a composite shrub growing in salt
       marshes iva frutescens.

   marsh five-finger. bot. see marsh cinquefoil above.
      

   marsh gas. chem. see under gas.

   marsh grass bot., a genus spartina of coarse grasses
      growing in marshes; -- called also cord grass. the tall
      spartina cynosuroides is not good for hay unless cut
      very young. the low spartina juncea is a common
      component of salt hay.

   marsh harrier zool., a european hawk or harrier circus
      aeruginosus; -- called also marsh hawk, moor hawk,
      moor buzzard, puttock.

   marsh hawk. zool.
   a a hawk or harrier circus cyaneus, native of both
       america and europe. the adults are bluish slate above,
       with a white rump. called also hen harrier, and mouse
       hawk.
   b the marsh harrier.

   marsh hen zool., a rail; esp., rallus elegans of
      fresh-water marshes, and rallus longirostris of
      salt-water marshes.

   marsh mallow bot., a plant of the genus althaea 
      althaea officinalis common in marshes near the
      seashore, and whose root is much used in medicine as a
      demulcent.

   marsh marigold. bot. see in the vocabulary.

   marsh pennywort bot., any plant of the umbelliferous
      genus hydrocotyle; low herbs with roundish leaves,
      growing in wet places; -- called also water pennywort.
      

   marsh quail zool., the meadow lark.

   marsh rosemary bot., a plant of the genus statice
      statice limonium, common in salt marshes. its root is
      powerfully astringent, and is sometimes used in medicine.
      called also sea lavender.

   marsh samphire bot., a plant salicornia herbacea
      found along seacoasts. see glasswort.

   marsh st. john's-wort bot., an american herb elodes
      virginica with small opposite leaves and flesh-colored
      flowers.

   marsh tea. bot.. same as labrador tea.

   marsh trefoil. bot. same as buckbean.

   marsh wren zool., any species of small american wrens of
      the genus cistothorus, and allied genera. they chiefly
      inhabit salt marshes.
      1913 webster
see also:
mere marish morass marish marsh asphodel nartheeium ossifragum 
bog asphodel marsh cinquefoil potentilla palustris marsh elder viburnum opulus 
iva frutescens marsh five-finger marsh gas gas marsh grass 
spartina cord grass spartina cynosuroides spartina juncea marsh harrier 
circus aeruginosus marsh hawk moor hawk moor buzzard puttock 
marsh hawk circus cyaneus hen harrier mouse hawk marsh hen 
rallus elegans rallus longirostris marsh mallow althaea althaea officinalis 
marsh marigold marsh pennywort hydrocotyle water pennywort marsh quail 
marsh rosemary statice statice limonium sea lavender marsh samphire 
salicornia herbacea glasswort marsh st. john's-wort elodes virginica marsh tea 
labrador tea marsh trefoil buckbean marsh wren cistothorus 

[4] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

buzzard \buz"zard\ bu^z"z~erd, n.o.e. busard, bosard, f.
   busard, fr. buse, l. buteo, a kind of falcon or hawk.
   1913 webster
   1. zool. a bird of prey of the hawk family, belonging to
      the genus buteo and related genera.
      1913 webster

   2. zool. in the united states, a term used for the turkey
      vulture cathartes aura, and sometimes
      indiscriminately to any vulture.
      pjc

   note: the buteo vulgaris is the common buzzard of europe.
         the american species of which the most common are
         buteo borealis, buteo pennsylvanicus, and buteo
         lineatus are usually called hen hawks. -- the
         rough-legged buzzard, or bee hawk, of europe pernis
         apivorus feeds on bees and their larvae, with other
         insects, and reptiles. -- the moor buzzard of europe is
         circus aeruginosus. see turkey buzzard, and
         carrion buzzard.
         1913 webster

   bald buzzard, the fishhawk or osprey. see fishhawk.
      1913 webster

   2. a blockhead; a dunce.
      1913 webster

            it is common, to a proverb, to call one who can not
            be taught, or who continues obstinately ignorant, a
            buzzard.                              --goldsmith.
      1913 webster
see also:
buteo turkey vulture cathartes aura buteo vulgaris buteo borealis buteo pennsylvanicus 
buteo lineatus pernis apivorus circus aeruginosus turkey buzzard carrion buzzard 
bald buzzard fishhawk 

[5] : WordNet (r) 2.0

circus aeruginosus
     n : old world harrier frequenting marshy regions syn: marsh
         harrier
see also:
marsh harrier 

Circus >> C Words
Circus, definition of term: Circus
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