Middle English Dictionary Entry
harou interj. & n.
Entry Info
| Forms | harou interj. & n. Also haroue, harrou(e, arrou(e, haraue, harrau, arreu, haroie & herroue & horou(e & harọ̄ & har. |
| Etymology | OF haro, harou, hareu. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) A cry of distress, cry for help; a shouted demand for rescue, vengeance, or the redress of a wrong; crien ~, greden ~; (b) a cry of sorrow; ~ bi shrift, alas for shrift, alas that I am unshriven; (c) an exclamation of anger or contempt; ~ upon you, shame on you; (d) a hunting cry; ?also, a cry used in herding sheep.
Associated quotations
a
- (1276) Inquis.Miscel.(PRO)1.585 : [Arnold entered the priory of Wale and took wine and other goods..against the will of the monks, who cried] Harou.
- c1330 7 Sages(1) (Auch)17/347 : And ssche tocragged hire visage And gradde 'harow [Eg: And cryde owte 'helpe, a lace']!'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Mil.(Manly-Rickert)A.3825 : Vp stirte hire Alison and Nicholay And criden 'out' and 'harrow [vrr. harrowe, horowe]' in the strete.
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.NP.(Manly-Rickert)B.4235 : 'I crye out on the mynystres,' quod he, 'That sholden kepe and reulen this citee. Harrow! allas! heere lith my felawe slayn!'
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.Mch.(Manly-Rickert)E.2366 : 'Out! help! allas! harrow!' he gan to crye.
- c1400(c1378) PPl.B (LdMisc 581)20.87 : There was 'harrow and help! here cometh kynde..to vndone vs alle!'
- a1425(?a1350) 7 Sages(2) (Glb E.9)536 : Sho..cried 'Harrow!' in grete rage.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)48/99 : Þe were als goode to late me go my gatte. We! owte! herrowe!
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)392/343 : Owt! ay! herrowe! helpe, mahounde!
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)138 : 'Harrow [F Harou]!' quod j, 'god, what shal j doo?'
- c1460(?c1400) Beryn (Nthld 55)2010 : A blynd man..sesid hym fast by the lap, And cried out, '& harowe!'
- c1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Tbr A.7)19368 : He gan to crye (so stood the cas): 'Out and harow! allas, allas!'
- a1500(?a1325) Otuel & R (Fil)1555 : All hys goddys he ȝaf a cloute; he ȝaf hem strokys, styf & stoute; 'Harawe!' they ganne to calle.
- a1500(1413) *Pilgr.Soul (Eg 615)1.8.6a : Let us crye, 'Arrowe' and 'owt'' upon hem alle, for thei don vs wronge.
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)17/275 : We! out! haro! help to blaw!
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)178/391 : I cry both euen and morow, veniance for thi blod thus spent: 'out!' I cry, and 'horow!'
b
- c1330(?a1300) Arth.& M.(Auch)4854 : Ten [paynims] com..To on ost of seuen þousinde..& to hem gradde: 'Harou, painems, ȝe ben to badde..alle our folk is ouercome!'
- (1340) Ayenb.(Arun 57)31/35 : Þe man liþ ine zenne and..nele arere þet heued to gode be zorȝe, ne grede, 'harou be ssrifte! [Vices & V.(2): Alas, þat I nere schryue!].'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Rv.(Manly-Rickert)A.4072 : This Iohn..gan to crye 'harrow [vrr. harow, harowe]' and 'weilaway, Oure hors is lost!'
- (c1390) Chaucer CT.Pard.(Manly-Rickert)C.288 : 'Harrow!' quod he, 'by nayles and by blood! This was a fals cherl and a fals iustise.'
- c1425(c1400) Ld.Troy (LdMisc 595)11030 : Ther was many 'weylaway', 'Harrow', 'alas', and 'out ay'.
- c1440 St.Chris.(Thrn)760 : Þe kyng cryede, 'Owte, harraw, allas!' Þat euer of womane borne he was.
- c1450 Pilgr.LM (Cmb Ff.5.30)139 : Allas, j shal now see the sorwe of weepinge..Ther seeth it noon that ne cryeth 'harrow.'
- ?a1475 Ludus C.(Vsp D.8)374/33 : Alas, harrow! is þis þat day to endles peyne, þat vs must pas?
- a1500(a1460) Towneley Pl.(Hnt HM 1)130/438 : Bot I may cry out, 'haroo,' The shepe if thay fynde.
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)19/245 : Out! Harrow! where is our might?
c
- a1450(c1410) Lovel.Grail (Corp-C 80)27.330 : Har, Erthe! why Art thow so hardye & so fre The Erthe to Acvsen In Ony degre?
- a1450-a1500(1436) Libel EP (Warner)315 : Farewel, Flemmynges, hay haro, hay avaunt!
- a1475(?a1430) Lydg.Pilgr.(Vit C.13)12766 : Lych as she wolde ha stranglyd me, Gan hyr handys to me strecche, And felly sayde 'Arrew [vr. Arrow], thow wrechche! Thow skapyst nat.'
- 1534(?a1500) Cov.Pl.ST (Croo:Craig)802 : Owt! velen wrychis, har apon you I cry! My wyll vtturly loke that yt be wroght!
d
- c1425 Twiti Venery(1) (Vsp B.12)152 : And whan þe cheuest is take, þere ye shall seye, 'howe, herrowe.'
- 1607(?a1425) Chester Pl.(Hrl 2124)134/45 : Howe! Haroye! how! how! dryve the sheepe to the low! thou may not heare but if I blowe.
2.
As noun: outcry, shouting, clamor.
Associated quotations
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)295/84 : Þanne gete we some harrowe full hastely at hande.
- a1450 Yk.Pl.(Add 35290)377/98 : Such harrowe was neuer are herde in helle.
- (a1460) Vegetius(2) (Pmb-C 243)1986 : A clamour, clept an harrow or a shout, Vntil the fight begynne, noon is to rere.