I. ˈhärnə̇s, ˈhȧn- noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English herneis, harneis baggage of an army or of a group of travelers, gear of a riding horse, armor, furniture, equipment, from Old French, probably from (assumed) Old Norse hernest provisions for an army, from Old Norse herr army + nest provisions; akin to Old English nest food, provisions, Old High German -nest food, gi nesan to survive — more at harry , nostalgia
1.
a.
(1) : the gear or tackle other than a yoke of a draft animal (as a horse, dog, or goat)
(2) : tackle , gear , equipment : the mounting or finishing parts (as of the mechanism and gear by which a large bell is suspended and rung)
b.
(1) : occupational surroundings : work routine
get back into harness after a vacation
many girls … take on the formidable task of running in double harness , embracing both marriage and a career — Robert Reid
(2) : close association
ability to work in harness with others — R.P.Brooks
c. : something that resembles a harness
knee harness
parachute harness
window-washer's harness
toddler on a harness
specifically : a prefabricated system of wiring with the necessary insulation and terminals ready to be attached (as in an ignition or lighting system)
2. : defensive military equipment for horse or man ; specifically : armor
smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness — 1 Kings 22:34 (Authorized Version)
3. : clothing especially of a specialized type
a policeman's harness
haven't seen her in anything but hospital harness for a long time — L.C.Douglas
4. : a part of the loom which holds the heddles and controls their motion and by which the warp threads are raised or depressed to form a shed — called also leaf
•
- in harness
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English herneisen, harneisen, from herneis, harneis, n.
1. archaic : to dress or equip for battle : arm
harness yourselves for the war — John Bunyan
2.
a. : to put a harness on
harness a horse
b. : to attach by means of a harness
the yellow wagon harnessed to … two stout grays — Ellen Glasgow
c. : to tie together : yoke
must harness his mechanical apparatus to his creative mind — Andrew Buchanan
3. : to put to work : utilize
harness the atom for constructive purposes — Mech. Engineering
harness words to convey ideas — advt
they who have harnessed contemporary social forces — W.H.Whyte
harnessing the limitless power of the sun — advt