harness
the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal.: Compare yoke1 (def. 1).
(on a loom) the frame containing heddles through which the warp is drawn and which, in combination with another such frame or other frames, forms the shed and determines the woven pattern.
the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung.
Electricity. wiring harness.
armor for persons or horses.
to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle.
to bring under conditions for effective use; gain control over for a particular end: to harness water power; to harness the energy of the sun.
Archaic. to array in armor or equipments of war.
Idioms about harness
in double harness. double harness (def. 2).
in harness,
engaged in one's usual routine of work: After his illness he longed to get back in harness.
together as cooperating partners or equals: Joe and I worked in harness on our last job.
Origin of harness
1Other words for harness
Other words from harness
- har·ness·er, noun
- har·ness·less, adjective
- har·ness·like, adjective
- re·har·ness, verb (used with object)
- well-harnessed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use harness in a sentence
Two people are needed to lift the dog-in-a-pod onto a support harness known as the pod-tray, shaped somewhat like a taco-shell, which is attached to the human jumper’s harness.
This new harness lets military dogs parachute safely and with style | Christina Mackenzie | January 4, 2021 | Popular-ScienceBy March of 2012 the company had an initial concept for its “Working Dog Freefall harness,” or K9A, by simply modifying an existing dog vest that had handles on it so that it could be attached to the front of the paratrooper’s harness.
This new harness lets military dogs parachute safely and with style | Christina Mackenzie | January 4, 2021 | Popular-ScienceA so-called combination seat like the Frontier is designed to be used with internal harnesses until the child outgrows them, then converted to a booster.
Congressional Investigation Finds Many Booster Seat Makers “Endangered” Children’s Lives After Review of “Meaningless Safety Testing” | by Patricia Callahan | December 11, 2020 | ProPublicaThe lucky puppy, who Wilbanks said is “just like family,” has since been spotted in TV interviews bopping around in a pink harness and licking his owner’s face.
Video shows man wrestling puppy from alligator’s jaws without dropping his cigar | Jennifer Hassan | November 23, 2020 | Washington PostSo I add a wire to my wire harness and just make it a little thicker.
With trust in AI, manufacturers can build better | Jason Sparapani | October 28, 2020 | MIT Technology Review
So I harnessed the last bit of power I had from that night and used it to plan my exit strategy.
I Was Pregnant When He Hit Me. Here's #WhyIStayed. | Anonymous | September 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAbrams against harnessed that monolith them, the American Jewish leaders, whom Abrams presumed to speak for.
Does Elliott Abrams Speak For American Jewish Leaders? | Ali Gharib | August 13, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTBut driving off with the baby harnessed illegally - or not harnessed at all - was not really an option for Kate and William.
Problem is, several of the Dirty Dozen harnessed their “untapped resourcefulness” to loot a mountain of money from CAI.
So wait—you were pregnant and harnessed into that machine throwing paint everywhere?
Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Julianne Moore Talk Sundance’s ‘Don Jon’s Addiction,’ Porn, and Love | Marlow Stern | January 20, 2013 | THE DAILY BEASTWe had six field-pieces, but we only took four, harnessed wit twice the usual number of horses.
The horse, whose health had been drunk in his absence, was standing outside, ready harnessed to the cart.
Oliver Twist, Vol. II (of 3) | Charles DickensThe plows are by the corral, and the first team that comes up is to be harnessed to each in turn.
Winston of the Prairie | Harold BindlossFour beautiful horses were harnessed to an open landau, and four servants, in Oriental liveries, ran by the side of the carriage.
A Woman's Journey Round the World | Ida PfeifferIn a word, they both carry their heads very high, and are harnessed to the chariot of Fortune, but are never likely to sit in it.
The 'Characters' of Jean de La Bruyre | Jean de La Bruyre
British Dictionary definitions for harness
/ (ˈhɑːnɪs) /
an arrangement of leather straps buckled or looped together, fitted to a draught animal in order that the animal can be attached to and pull a cart
something resembling this, esp for attaching something to the body: a parachute harness
mountaineering an arrangement of webbing straps that enables a climber to attach himself to the rope so that the impact of a fall is minimized
the total system of electrical leads for a vehicle or aircraft
weaving the part of a loom that raises and lowers the warp threads, creating the shed
archaic armour collectively
in harness at one's routine work
to put harness on (a horse)
(usually foll by to) to attach (a draught animal) by means of harness to (a cart, etc)
to control so as to employ the energy or potential power of: to harness the atom
to equip or clothe with armour
Origin of harness
1Derived forms of harness
- harnesser, noun
- harnessless, adjective
- harness-like, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with harness
see die with one's boots on (in harness) in harness.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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