harpoon
pronunciation
How to pronounce harpoon in British English:
UK [hɑːˈpuːn]
How to pronounce harpoon in American English:
US [hɑːrˈpuːn]
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- Noun:
- a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it
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- Verb:
- spear with a harpoon
Word Origin
- harpoon (v.)
- 1747, from harpoon (n.). Related: Harpooned; harpooning. Agent-noun form harpooner is from 1726; harpooneer from 1610s.
- harpoon (n.)
- 1610s, from French harpon, from Old French harpon "cramp iron, clamp, clasp" (described as a mason's tool for fastening stones together), from harper "to grapple, grasp," which is of uncertain origin. It is possibly of Germanic origin; or the French word might be from Latin harpa "hook" (related to harpagonem "grappling hook"), from Greek harpe "sickle," from PIE root *serp- (1) "sickle, hook." Earlier word for it was harping-iron (mid-15c.). Sense and spelling perhaps influenced by Dutch (compare Middle Dutch harpoen) or Basque, the language of the first European whaling peoples, who often accompanied English sailors on their early expeditions. Also see -oon.
Example
- 1. The local government had claimed special dispensation to harpoon two rare greenlandic whales .
- 2. Now the bad time is coming and I do not even have the harpoon .
- 3. Four centuries ago locals made breakthroughs in harpoon technology and the use of nets to slow down migrating whales .
- 4. On each calm placid turn the fish made he was gaining line and he was sure that in two turns more he would have a chance to get the harpoon in .
- 5. The shaft of the harpoon was projecting at an angle from the fish 's shoulder and the sea was discoloring with the red of the blood from his heart .