Hypertext Webster Gateway: "harness"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)
Harness
(1.) Heb. 'asar, "to bind;" hence the act of fastening animals
to a cart (1 Sam. 6:7, 10; Jer. 46:4, etc.).
(2.) An Old English word for "armour;" Heb. neshek (2 Chr.
9:24).
(3.) Heb. shiryan, a coat of mail (1 Kings 22:34; 2 Chr.
18:33; rendered "breastplate" in Isa. 59:17).
(4.) The children of Israel passed out of Egypt "harnessed"
(Ex. 13:18), i.e., in an orderly manner, and as if to meet a
foe. The word so rendered is probably a derivative from Hebrew
_hamesh_ (i.e., "five"), and may denote that they went up in
five divisions, viz., the van, centre, two wings, and
rear-guard.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Harness \Har"ness\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Harnessed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Harnessing}.] [OE. harneisen; cf. F. harnacher, OF.
harneschier.]
1. To dress in armor; to equip with armor for war, as a
horseman; to array.
Harnessed in rugged steel. --Rowe.
A gay dagger, Harnessed well and sharp as point of
spear. --Chaucer.
2. Fig.: To equip or furnish for defense. --Dr. H. More.
3. To make ready for draught; to equip with harness, as a
horse. Also used figuratively.
Harnessed to some regular profession. --J. C.
Shairp.
{Harnessed antelope}. (Zo["o]l.) See {Guib}.
{Harnessed moth} (Zo["o]l.), an American bombycid moth
({Arctia phalerata} of Harris), having, on the fore wings,
stripes and bands of buff on a black ground.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Harness \Har"ness\, n. [OE. harneis, harnes, OF. harneis, F.
harnais, harnois; of Celtic origin; cf. Armor. harnez old
iron, armor, W. haiarn iron, Armor. houarn, Ir. iarann, Gael.
iarunn. Gf. {Iron}.]
1. Originally, the complete dress, especially in a military
sense, of a man or a horse; hence, in general, armor.
At least we 'll die witch harness on our back.
--Shak.
2. The equipment of a draught or carriage horse, for drawing
a wagon, coach, chaise, etc.; gear; tackling.
3. The part of a loom comprising the heddles, with their
means of support and motion, by which the threads of the
warp are alternately raised and depressed for the passage
of the shuttle.
{To die in harness}, to die with armor on; hence,
colloquially, to die while actively engaged in work or
duty.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
harness
n 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
v 1: put a harness on; of animals such as horses [ant: {unharness}]
2: exploit the power of; "harness natural forces and resources"
3: control and direct with or as if by reins; as of a horse
[syn: {rein in}, {draw rein}, {rein}]
4: keep in check; "rule one's temper" [syn: {rule}, {rein}]
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