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harpoon gun

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noun
  1. a small cannon for shooting harpoons.
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Origin of harpoon gun

First recorded in 1810–20
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for harpoon gun

Historical Examples

  • As respected the second mode, the use of the harpoon-gun, there was no novelty in that certainly.

    Abridgement of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856 (4 of 16 vol.)

    Various

  • This harpoon-gun is now used all over the world, and has made whaling a wonderfully profitable business.

  • Greener's harpoon-gun is a kind of wall-piece fixed in a crutch, which steps into the bow-bollard of the whale-boat.

    The Sailor's Word-Book

    William Henry Smyth

  • Looking at Hank, he saw that the old fighter of the seas had dropped the harpoon-gun and was holding poised the long lance.

  • They go out in large open boats, six men to a boat, and shoot the harpoon 220 into the whale from the harpoon-gun.