Har"py (här"p?), n.;
pl. Harpies (-pĭz). [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.
Both table and provisions vanished quite.
With sound of harpies' wings and talons heard.
Milton.
2. One who is rapacious or ravenous; an
extortioner.
The harpies about all pocket the
pool.
Goldsmith.
3. (Zoöl.) (a)
The European moor buzzard or marsh harrier (Circus
æruginosus). (b) A large and
powerful, double-crested, short-winged American eagle
(Thrasaëtus harpyia). It ranges from Texas to
Brazil.
Harpy bat (Zoöl.)
(a) An East Indian fruit bat of the genus
Harpyia (esp. H. cephalotes), having prominent, tubular
nostrils. (b) A small, insectivorous Indian
bat (Harpiocephalus harpia). -- Harpy
fly (Zoöl.), the house fly.