6 February 2015

harridan

[hahr-i-dn]

noun
1. a scolding, vicious woman; hag; shrew.

Origin
French
1690-1700; perhaps alteration of French haridelle thin, worn-out horse, large, gaunt woman (compared with the initial element of haras stud farm, though derivation is unclear)

Synonyms
nag, virago, scold.

Dictionary.com

Examples from the web for harridan
– Ann is a shrill, sarcastic harridan who has nothing pleasant to say as she makes her way to the gin bottle in the office bar.
– She’s a harridan of a manager-ripping through the staff, sacking many old stalwarts, and slashing operating costs.
– Eddie is warmed by her sporty friendliness, especially in contrast to the harridan convalescing in his hotel bedroom.

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Today’s aphorism

Managers light a fire under people; leaders light a fire in people.

– Kathy Austin

On this day

6 February 1851 – Black Thursday bushfires that swept across Victoria, Australia. The fires killed 12 people and scorched a quarter of Victoria, approximately 5,000,000 hectares (12.5 million acres). More than 1 million sheep died. It is the largest Australian bushfire in a populous region in recorded history.

6 February 1938 – ‘Black Sunday’, when freak waves strike Bondi Beach, Australia, dragging swimmers hundreds of metres out to sea. Five people drowned and 250 needed rescuing.

6 February 1945 – birth of Bob Marley, Jamaican reggae singer and musician. Died 11 May 1981.

6 February 1952 – King George VI dies, resulting in new sovereign being Queen Elizabeth II.

6 February 1971 – Alan Shephard becomes the first man to hit golf balls on the moon. He smuggled the club and balls on board lunar spacecraft, Apollo 14, by hiding them inside his suit.