/ hɑːˈpuːn; NAmE hɑːrˈp-/ noun , verb
■ noun
a weapon like a spear that you can throw or fire from a gun and is used for catching large fish, whales , etc.
■ verb
[ vn ] to hit sth with a harpoon
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (denoting a barbed dart or spear): from French harpon , from harpe dog's claw, clamp, via Latin from Greek harpē sickle.