A mythological creature depicted as a bird with a woman's head and torso; a grasping, unpleasant woman. In Greek mythology, winged spirits who carried away the dead.
From Latin 'harpyia', from Greek 'harpyia' meaning 'snatcher', derived from 'harpazein' (to snatch or seize). Originally described mythological creatures who snatched food and people, later applied metaphorically to grasping women.
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