noun
Harley
HAHR-lee
noun
1
Informal shorthand for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
"He saved for years to buy a secondhand Harley."
"The bikers rolled into town on a dozen gleaming Harleys."
How to Use Harley
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual, brand-name way of saying "motorcycle" — specifically a Harley-Davidson.
Common pairings
ride a Harley
a vintage Harley
Harley riders
Word Forms
Harleys plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “Harley”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He saved for years to buy a secondhand _____.
Etymology
Short for Harley-Davidson, the American motorcycle maker founded in 1903 by William S. Harley and the Davidson brothers; the surname itself traces to an Old English place name meaning roughly "hare wood" or "rock clearing."