n. & v.
--n. a barbed spearlike missile with a rope attached, for catching whales etc.
--v.tr. spear with a harpoon.
Phrases and idioms:
harpoon-gun a gun for firing a harpoon.
Derivatives:
harpooner n.
Etymology: F harpon f. harpe clamp f. L harpa f. Gk harpe sickle