noun
Harman
Harman (noun) means Old-fashioned British slang for a police officer. Example: “The old thieves' cant used "harman" for any constable on the beat.”
noun
1
Old-fashioned British slang for a police officer.
"The old thieves' cant used "harman" for any constable on the beat."
2
A naturally occurring alkaloid found in various plants and foods, used in research as an inhibitor of a key brain enzyme.
"Trace amounts of harman occur in coffee and grilled meats."
How to use Harman
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTwo unrelated meanings: an old slang word for a cop, and the name of a naturally occurring chemical compound.
When to use it
The "policeman" sense is archaic slang, not used in everyday modern English.
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Word forms
- Plural
- harmans
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The old thieves' cant used "_____" for any constable on the beat.
Etymology
As slang for a policeman, from older English underworld cant; as a surname, from a Germanic root meaning roughly "army man," closely related to Herman/Hermann.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Harman
See all rhymes for Harman →Frequently asked questions
What does “Harman” mean?
The word “Harman” means old-fashioned British slang for a police officer. In plain terms, two unrelated meanings: an old slang word for a cop, and the name of a naturally occurring chemical compound.
How do you use “Harman” in a sentence?
Here is “Harman” used in a sentence: “The old thieves' cant used "harman" for any constable on the beat.”
What is another word for “Harman”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Harman” include harman-beck, nuthook and PC Plod.
What part of speech is “Harman”?
“Harman” is a noun.
Where does the word “Harman” come from?
The word “Harman” comes from Germanic. As slang for a policeman, from older English underworld cant; as a surname, from a Germanic root meaning roughly "army man," closely related to Herman/Hermann.
How many meanings does “Harman” have?
“Harman” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: old-fashioned British slang for a police officer.
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