harrow

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A heavy farm tool dragged across ploughed land to break up and smooth the soil.

   The farmer pulled a harrow over the field to prepare it for planting.

2. 2
   verb

   To cause someone great distress or suffering.

   The images of the disaster harrowed everyone who saw them.

3. 3
   verb

   To break up soil by dragging a harrow over it.

   He harrowed the valley before sowing the seeds.

From Middle English harwe, harow, from Old English *hearwa (perhaps ultimately cognate with harvest), or from Old Norse harfr/herfi; compare Danish harve (“harrow”), Dutch hark (“rake”). Akin to Latin carpere. According to the OED, the verb senses are partly derived from the noun sense, partly from a by-form of the verb harry, itself from Old English hergian.

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