1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 12, s.v.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Harness. In Harness, adj.
phr. (colloquial).—In business;
at work: as, to die in harness
= to die at one's post; to get
back into harness = to resume
work after a holiday. [Harness
also = armour.]
1872. Fun, 10 Aug. 'Over.' Aye! But the sting of it's here, Just as I'm back into harness, Others are off to sea, mountain, and mere.
1892. Hume Nisbet, Bushranger's Sweetheart, p. 2. My father died in harness.
Harp, interject. (Irish).—See quot.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Harp . . . harp is also the Irish expression for 'woman' or 'tail,' used in tossing up in Ireland, from Hibernia being represented with a harp, on the reverse of the copper coins of that country, for which reason it is in hoisting the copper, i.e., tossing up, sometimes likewise called music.
To harp on, verb. phr. (old, now recognised).—To dwell persistently and at any cost upon a subject.
1596. Nashe, Have with you to Saffron Walden. As if I had continually harped upon it in every tenth line of my book.
1596. Shakspeare, Hamlet, ii., 2. Still harping on my daughter.
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Harp-upon a business, to insist on it.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
1886. R. L. Stevenson, Kidnapped, p. 291. He was back harping on my proposal.
Harper, subs. (old).—A brass coin
current in Ireland, temp. Elizabeth,
value one penny. [From
the Irish Harp figured upon it.]
1574-1637. Ben Jonson, The Gipsies Metamorphosed. A two-pence I had to spend ever and above; besides the harper that was gathered amongst us to pay the piper.
Have among you my blind harpers, phr. (old).—See quot.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v. Harpers.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Have among you my blind harpers, an expression used in throwing or shooting at random among a crowd.
Harridan, subs. (old, now recognised).—See quots. Also (colloquial) a disagreeable old woman. [A corruption of O. Fr. haridelle = a worn out horse, a jade.]
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v. Harridan, one that is half Whore, half Bawd.
1705-7. Ward, Hudibras Redivivus, vol. II., pt. ii., p. 27. Old Leachers, Harridans, and Cracks.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v. Harridan, a hagged old woman, a miserable scraggy worn out harlot, fit to take her bawd's degree.
1815. Scott, Guy Mannering, ch., xxxix. 'Now what could drive it into the noddle of that old harridan,' said Pleydell.
1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v.
Harrington, subs. (old).—A
brass farthing. [Lord Harrington
obtained a patent of manufacture
under James I.]
1616. B. Jonson, Devil is an Ass, ii., I. Yes, sir, it's cast to penny halfpenny farthing, O' the back side there you may see it, read; I will not bate a Harrington o' the sum.
1632. B. Jonson, Magn. Lady, ii., 6. His wit he cannot so dispose by legacy As they shall be a Harrington the better for't.
Harry, subs. (old).—I. A countryman; a clown. For synonyms, see Joskin.
1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Harry. A country fellow.
2. (colloquial).—See 'Arry.
