Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HAR'MOST, n. [Gr. άρμοστηρ from άρμοσσω, to regulate.]

In ancient Greece, a Spartan governor, regulator or prefect. Mitford.

HAR'MO-TOME, n. [Gr. άρμος, a joint, and τεμνω, to cut.]

In mineralogy, cross-stone, or staurolite, called also pyramidical zeolite. [See Cross-stone.]

HAR'NESS, n. [W. harnaes, from harn, that is, closely fitted; Fr. harnois; Arm. harnes; It. arnese; Sp. arnes; Port. arnez; D. harnas; G. harnisch; Sw. harnesk; Dan. harnisk. The primary sense is, to fit, prepare or put on; and in different languages, it signifies not only harness, but furniture and utensils.]

1. Armor; the whole accouterments or equipments of a knight or horseman; originally perhaps defensive armor, but in a more modern and enlarged sense, the furniture of a military man, defensive or offensive, as a casque, cuirass, helmet, girdle, sword, buckler, &c.
2. The furniture of a draught horse, whether for a wagon, coach, gig, chaise, &c.; called in some of the American states, tackle or tackling, with which, in its primary sense, it is synonymous. Dryden.

HAR'NESS, v.t.

1. To dress in armor; to equip with armor for war, as a horseman. Harnessed to rugged steel. Rowe.
2. To put on the furniture of a horse for draught. Harness the horses. Jer. xlvi.
3. To defend; to equip or furnish for defense. 1 Macc. iv.

HAR'NESS-ED, pp.

Equipped with armor; furnished with the dress for draught; defended.

HAR'NESS-ER, n.

One who puts on the harness of a horse. Sherwood.

HAR'NESS-ING, ppr.

Putting on armor or furniture for draught.

HARNS, n.

Brains. Grose.

HARP, n. [Sax. hearpa; G. harfe; D. harp; Sw. harpa; Dan. harpe; Fr. harpe; It. Sp. and Port. arpa.]

1. An instrument of music of the stringed kind, of a triangular figure, held upright and commonly touched with the fingers. Encyc. Johnson.
2. A constellation. Creech.

HARP, v.i.

1. To play on the harp. I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps. Rev. xiv.
2. To dwell on, in speaking or writing; to continue sounding. He seems Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am – / Not what he knew I was. Shak.
3. To touch as a passion; to affect. Shak.

HARP'ER, n.

A player on the harp.

HARP'ING, n.

A continual dwelling on. Making infinite merriment by harpings upon old themes. Irving.

HARP'ING, n. [plur. Harpings.]

In ships, harpings are the fore-parts of the wales, which encompass the bow of the ship, and are fastened to the stem. Their use is to strengthen the ship, in the place where she sustains the greatest shock in plunging into the sea. – Encyc. Cat-harpings, are ropes which serve to brace in the shrouds of the lower masts, behind their respective yards. – Mar. Dict.

HARP'ING, ppr.

Playing on a harp; dwelling on continually.

HARP'ING-IR-ON, n.

A harpoon – which see.

HARP'IST, n.

A harper. – Brown.

HAR-POON', n. [Fr. harpon; Sp. arpon; Port. arpam, arpeo; It. arpione; G. harpune; D. harpoen; from Fr. harper, to grapple; Sp. arpar, to claw; Gr. άρπαζω, from άρπαω, to seize with the claws; probably L. rapio, by transposition of letters. Class Rb.]

A harping-iron; a spear or javelin, used to strike whales for killing them. It consists of a long shank, with a broad flat triangular head, sharpened at both edges for penetrating the whale with facility. It is generally thrown by hand.

HAR-POON', v.t.

To strike, catch or kill with a harpoon. The beluga is usually caught in nets, but is sometimes harpooned. – Pennant.

HAR-POON'ED, pp.

Struck, caught or killed with a harpoon.

HAR-POON'ER, n.

One who uses a harpoon; the man in a whale-boat who throws the harpoon.

HAR-POON'ING, ppr.

Striking with a harpoon.

HARP'SI-CHORD, n. [harp and chord.]

An instrument of music with strings of wire, played by the fingers, by means of keys. The striking of these keys moves certain little jacks, which move a double row of chords or strings, stretched over four bridges on the table of the instrument. – Encyc.

HAR'PY, n. [Fr. harpie; It. Sp. and Port. arpia; L. harpyia; Gr. άρπυια, from the root of άρπαζω, to seize or claw.]

1. In antiquity, the harpies were fabulous winged monsters, having the face of a woman and the body of a vulture, with their feet and fingers armed with sharp claws. They were three in number, Aello, Ocypete, and Celeno. They were sent by Juno to plunder the table of Phineus. They are represented as rapacious and filthy animals. – Lempriere.
2. The largest of the eagle tribe; the Harpyia destructor, inhabiting Mexico and Brazil.
3. Any rapacious or ravenous animal; an extortioner; a plunderer.

HAR'QUE-BUSE, n. [See ARQUEBUSE.]

HAR-RA-TEEN', n.

A kind of stuff or cloth. – Shenstone.