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., 1. Yes, sir, it’s cast to penny half-penny 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).—1. A countryman; a clown. For synonyms, see Joskin. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. Harry. A country fellow. 2. (colloquial).—See ’Arry. Old Harry, subs. (common).—The devil. For synonyms, see Skipper. 1693. Congreve, Old Bachelor, ii., 1. By the Lord Harry I’ll stay no longer. 1811. Lexicon Balatronicum, s.v. 1830. Lytton, Paul Clifford, ch. iv. May Old Harry fly off with him. 1837. Barham, Ingoldsby Legends (1865), p. 406. Shall I summon Old Harry himself to this spot? Harry of the West, subs. phr. (political American).—Henry Clay. To play old Harry, verb. phr. (common).—To annoy; to ruin; to play the devil. 1889. Licensed Vict. Gaz., 18 Jan. Otherwise played old Harry with the guardians of the peace. Tom, Dick, and Harry, phr. (common).—Generic for any and everybody; the mob. 1886. R. L. Stevenson, Kidnapped, p. 287. He rode from public house to public house and shouted his sorrows into the lug of Tom, Dick, and Harry. What Harry gave Doll, verb. phr. (old venery).—The penis: also generic for fornication. Harry-bluff, subs. (rhyming).—Snuff. Harry-common, subs. phr. (old).—A general wencher. 1675. Wycherley, Country Wife, v., 4. Well, Harry Common, I hope you can be true to three. Harry-soph, subs. (Cambridge Univ.: obsolete).—See quots.