the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal.Compare yoke1 (def. 1).
(on a loom) the frame containing heddles through which the warp is drawn and which, in combination with another such frame or other frames, forms the shed and determines the woven pattern.
the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung.
Electricity. wiring harness.
armor for persons or horses.
verb (used with object)
to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle.
to bring under conditions for effective use; gain control over for a particular end: to harness water power; to harness the energy of the sun.
Archaic. to array in armor or equipments of war.
Idioms for harness
in double harness. double harness (def. 2).
in harness,
engaged in one's usual routine of work: After his illness he longed to get back in harness.
together as cooperating partners or equals: Joe and I worked in harness on our last job.
Origin of harness
1250–1300; Middle English harneis, herneis<Old French herneis baggage, equipment <Old Norse *hernest provisions for an armed force, equivalent to herr army (cf. harbor, herald) + nest provisions for a journey
SYNONYMS FOR harness
7 control, manage, utilize, exploit.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR harness ON THESAURUS.COM
OTHER WORDS FROM harness
har·ness·er,nounhar·ness·less,adjectivehar·ness·like,adjectivere·har·ness,verb (used with object)
Around 2003, he drove over an hour west of his grandmother’s one-time nursing home to Hawkinsville, population 4,500, a quiet river town in rural central Georgia best known for its harness horse racing track and women’s state prison.
He Wanted to Fix Rural America’s Broken Nursing Homes. Now, Taxpayers May Be on the Hook for $76 Million.|by Max Blau for Georgia Health News|September 22, 2020|ProPublica
The minimalist shoulder harness gives me full mobility when I’m stand-up paddleboarding, but unlike some minimalist models, the foam padding spans the entire back of the vest, providing a cushion when I’m sitting in a fishing kayak.
The Gear That Lets Me Enjoy the Last Days of Summer|Graham Averill|September 15, 2020|Outside Online
Barve and his colleagues had fitted many of the woodpeckers in the area with tiny radio transmitters—which resemble a fanny pack held in place by a harness—to investigate their movements for another project.
Blood, death, and eye gouging: welcome to the world of acorn woodpeckers|Kate Baggaley|September 9, 2020|Popular Science
A comfortable harnessYou can avoid potentially strangling your dog by buying a harness.
The right way to walk your dog|John Kennedy|August 26, 2020|Popular Science
Mynchenberg, who has a master’s degree in human-canine life sciences from Bergin University of Canine Studies, says she likes harnesses with handles because they offer an easy way to grab and hold your pet.
The right way to walk your dog|John Kennedy|August 26, 2020|Popular Science
The protests so far have relied on a small group of core organizing bodies to harness broad but diffuse support.
Eric Garner Protesters Have a Direct Line to City Hall|Jacob Siegel|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1870, the very Germanically-named August Ruengling fixed a harness for a circus rider and obtained free passes for his family.
We’re All Carnies Now: Why We Can’t Quit the Circus|Anthony Paletta|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1899, with a three hundred dollar investment, they opened a small saddlery and harness shop.
‘The Harness Maker’s Dream:’ The Unlikely Ranch King of Texas|Nick Kotz|September 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Whether or not guayusa is a product of selective breeding, the Kichwa have learned to harness its power.
Bye Bye Latté, Hello Guayusa: Why The Amazon Holds the Secret to a Cleaner, Healthier Caffeine|Brandon Presser|August 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
London may as well also require that cabbies master the art of saddling a horse and mending a harness.
As Europe Now Sees, Resisting Uber Is Futile|Jim Epstein|June 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The truth is, that we need both the discipline of harness and the abundant nourishment of the free pasture.
The Intellectual Life|=Philip Gilbert Hamerton
I wanted him to turn out a set of harness, and take the cow and the sap troughs.
The Pioneers|James Fenimore Cooper
Philippe was not cold; he perspired in his harness, dreading further questions.
Maitre Cornelius|Honore de Balzac
They may harness her talents and her willingness in founding Swadeshi Sabha and organising Swadeshi propaganda on a sound basis.
The Wheel of Fortune|Mahatma Gandhi
So when the little mare trotted away still calling to him, he kicked off his harness and galloped delightedly after her.
Stories from Northern Myths|Emilie Kip Baker
British Dictionary definitions for harness
harness
/ (ˈhɑːnɪs) /
noun
an arrangement of leather straps buckled or looped together, fitted to a draught animal in order that the animal can be attached to and pull a cart
something resembling this, esp for attaching something to the bodya parachute harness
mountaineeringan arrangement of webbing straps that enables a climber to attach himself to the rope so that the impact of a fall is minimized
the total system of electrical leads for a vehicle or aircraft
weavingthe part of a loom that raises and lowers the warp threads, creating the shed
archaicarmour collectively
in harnessat one's routine work
verb(tr)
to put harness on (a horse)
(usually foll by to)to attach (a draught animal) by means of harness to (a cart, etc)
to control so as to employ the energy or potential power ofto harness the atom