harpy, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

harpy n.

[SE harpy, ‘A fabulous monster, rapacious and filthy, having a woman’s face and body and a bird’s wings and claws, and supposed to act as a minister of divine vengeance’ (OED); in Homer the Harpies personified hurricanes and whirlwinds]

(US black) an old woman.

1879		London Life 9 Aug. 6/1: [T]he greater number of these ‘Pimlico Harpies’ have themselves been ‘gay women,’ and when [...] their charms were on the wane, they bethought them of setting up as lodginghouse keepers.
1941		D. Burley N.Y. Amsterdam Star-News 9 Aug. 13: Harpies ’n’ Stewers — Old ladies who want to be young again.
1944		D. Burley Orig. Hbk of Harlem Jive 66: All that’s in the House Without Chairs [...] are a bunch of Gal Officers, Harpies, Stewers and Chicks That Play It Hard.