unharness

[uhn-hahr-nis]

verb (used with object)

to strip of harness; detach the harness from (a horse, mule, etc.).
to divest of armor, as a knight or warhorse.

Origin of unharness

First recorded in 1400–50, unharness is from the Middle English word onharnesen. See un-², harness

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for unharness

Historical Examples of unharness

He began to unharness before the first sentence was finished.
The Forbidden Trail
Honor Willsie
He hoped that his father would not come and help him unharness the horses.
The Best Short Stories of 1915
Various
Afraid,” growled the fellow, proceeding to unharness his horse; “that was the word, I think.
Lavengro
George Borrow
He said he put the package on the wagon-seat, and got out to unharness the horse.
Golden Days for Boys and Girls
Various
Unharness the Sawhorse, somebody; my fingers are too clumsy.
The Lost Princess of Oz
L. Frank Baum

British Dictionary definitions for unharness

unharness

verb (tr)

to remove the harness from (a horse, etc)
archaic to remove the armour from

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

Word Origin and History for unharness

mid-15c., "divest of armor," from un- (2) + harness (v.). Cf. Dutch ontharnassen "to disarm." Meaning "to free (a horse) from harness" is recorded from 1610s. Related: Unharnessed; unharnessing.