Link Centre Dictionary

harness

har·ness

UK/ˈhɑː.nəs/ US/ˈhɑɹ.nəs/ fairly common
noun (2) verb (4)

noun

1.

a support consisting of an arrangement of straps for holding something to the body (especially one supporting a person suspended from a parachute)

2.

stable gear consisting of an arrangement of leather straps fitted to a draft animal so that it can be attached to and pull a cart

verb

1.

put a harness

  • “harness the horse”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

exploit the power of

  • “harness natural forces and resources”
3.

control and direct with or as if by reins

  • “rein a horse”
Synonyms
4.

keep in check

  • “rule one”
Synonyms

Origin

From Middle English harneys, harnes, harneis, harnais, herneis, from Anglo-Norman harneis and Old French hernois (“equipment used in battle”), believed to be from Old Norse *hernest, from herr (“army”) + nest (“provisions”) (from Proto-Germanic *nesaną (“to heal, recover”)). More at harry.

Phrases

  • cable harness
  • die in harness
  • harness bend
  • harness bull
  • harness cask
  • harness hang syndrome
  • harnessed antelope
  • harnessed moth

Related words

Word family

Broader terms

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Part of

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.