unharnessv.
/(ˌ)ʌnˈhɑːnᵻs/, U.S. /ˌənˈhɑrnəs/ 1. transitive. To divest of armour. Also figurative.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > military equipment > armour > of armour: protect [verb (transitive)] > divest of armour
despoilc1386
unarmc1386
undighta1400
disarma1450
dismail1485
unharnessa1500
devest1582
unbelt1815
a1500 (?a1400) Sir Torrent of Portyngale (1887) l. 302 Blythe then wase that lady jent, For to on-harnes Torrent.
1549 M. Coverdale et al. tr. Erasmus Paraphr. Newe Test. II. Col. ii. f. vi Then declared he them freely and playnly to be ouercommen and vnharnysed, when..he caryed vs about as it were in a triumphe.
1552 R. Huloet Abcedarium Anglico Latinum Vnharnayes exarmo.
1802 C. James New Mil. Dict. Unharnessed, disarmed, divested of armour or weapons of offence.
2. To free (horses, etc.) from harness; to unyoke. Also figurative and (in later use) absol.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [verb (transitive)] > harness or yoke > unharness
unspang1580
unharness1611
unspan1648
unhorse1654
outspan1815
unyoke1821
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > keeping or management of horses > horse-gear > [verb (transitive)] > tack or harness > unharness
untackle1574
ungear1598
unharness1611
unclose?1614
unrig1690
outspan1815
unshut1817
untack1962
1611 R. Cotgrave Dict. French & Eng. Tongues Desharnacher, to vnharnesse, or vntrap; to take off the furniture from a horse.
1644 J. Milton Doctr. Divorce (ed. 2) 77 When two unfortunately met are by the Canon forc't to draw in that yoke..till death unharnesse 'em.
1697 J. Dryden tr. Virgil Pastorals ii, in tr. Virgil Wks. 9 The sweating Steers unharnass'd from the Yoke, Bring, as in Triumph, back the crooked Plough.
1747 Philos. Trans. 1746 (Royal Soc.) 44 296 The Carter drove him home; but, as soon as he had unharnessed him, the poor Creature..dropp'd down dead immediately.
1799 Hull Advertiser 2 Feb. 2/4 A number of respectable inhabitants unharnessed the cattle from his carriage.
1852 G. Grote Hist. Greece IX. ii. lxxi. 203 Xenophon unharnessing a waggon-bullock.., immediately offered sacrifice.
1894 Westm. Gaz. 10 June 5/1 He had to leave off helping to unharness the horse.
Derivatives
unˈharnessing n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > food and drink > farming > animal husbandry > general equipment > [noun] > harness of draught animal > unharness
unharnessing1856
1856 C. J. Lever Martins of Cro' Martin xv Grooming, and shoeing, and unharnessing went on with..noise and merriment.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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v.a1500