Harness

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈhɑː(ɹ).nÉ™s/
• Rhymes: -ɑː(ɹ)nÉ™s

Origin

Anglo-Norman harneis, Old French hernois ("equipment used in battle").

Full definition of harness

Noun

1. (countable) A restraint or support, especially one consisting of a loop or network of rope or straps.
2. (countable) A collection of wires or cables bundled and routed according to their function.
3. (dated) The complete dress, especially in a military sense, of a man or a horse; armour in general.
• 1606 William Shakespeare, Macbeth, act V, scene VRing the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack!At least we'll die with harness on our back.
4. 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.

Derived terms

• harnessed antelope
• harnessed moth
• test harness

Verb

1. (transitive) To place a harness on something; to tie up or restrain.
   They harnessed the horse to the post.
• 2013, Henry Petroski, Geothermal Energy, Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.
2. (transitive) To capture, control or put to use.
   Imagine what might happen if it were possible to harness solar energy fully.
• 2013-08-16, John Vidal, Dams endanger ecology of Himalayas, Most of the Himalayan rivers have been relatively untouched by dams near their sources. Now the two great Asian powers, India and China, are rushing to harness them as they cut through some of the world's deepest valleys.