harpy

noun pl. harpies

1. Gr. Myth. any of several hideous, filthy, rapacious winged monsters with the head and trunk of a woman and the tail, legs, and talons of a bird
2. a relentless, greedy, or grasping person
3. a shrewish woman
4. harpy eagle

Origin: MFr harpie < L harpyia < Gr harpyiai, pl., lit., snatchers < harpazein, to snatch < IE *serp- < base *ser-, sickle, curved hook > L sarpere, to prune