harness : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: harness	by the DICT Development Group
4 results for harness
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
harness n a support consisting of an arrangement of straps for holding something to the body (especially one supporting a person suspended from a parachute) 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 put a harness; "harness the horse" [syn: harness, tackle] Antonym(s): unharness exploit the power of; "harness natural forces and resources" control and direct with or as if by reins; "rein a horse" Synonym(s): harness, rein in, draw rein, rein keep in check; "rule one's temper" Synonym(s): rule, harness, rein
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[94]l.) See {Guib}. {Harnessed moth} (Zo[94]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 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.