harpoon
[ hahr-poon ]
/ hɑrˈpun /
noun
a barbed, spearlike missile attached to a rope, and thrown by hand or shot from a gun, used for killing and capturing whales and large fish.
(initial capital letter) Military. a jet-powered, radar-guided U.S. Navy cruise missile with a high explosive warhead designed for use against surface ships and launchable from a surface vessel, submerged submarine, or aircraft.
verb (used with object)
to strike, catch, or kill with or as if with a harpoon.
Nearby words
harpers ferry, harpies, harping, harpings, harpist, harpoon, harpoon gun, harpsichord, harpy, harpy eagle, harquebus
Origin of harpoon
1590–1600; < Dutch harpoen ≪ Old French harpon a clasp, brooch, equivalent to harp- (< Latin harpē < Greek: hook) + -on diminutive suffix
Related formshar·poon·er, nounhar·poon·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for harpoon
British Dictionary definitions for harpoon
harpoon
/ (hɑːˈpuːn) /
noun
- a barbed missile attached to a long cord and hurled or fired from a gun when hunting whales, etc
- (as modifier)a harpoon gun
verb
(tr) to spear with or as if with a harpoon
Derived Formsharpooner or harpooneer, nounharpoon-like, adjective
Word Origin for harpoon
C17: probably from Dutch harpoen, from Old French harpon clasp, from harper to seize, perhaps of Scandinavian origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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