Harnessing

[hahr-nis] /ˈhɑr nɪs/

noun
1.
the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal.
Compare 1 (def 1).
2.
(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.
3.
the equipment, as straps, bolts, or gears, by which a large bell is mounted and rung.
4.
Electricity. .
5.
armor for persons or horses.
verb (used with object)
6.
to put a harness on (a horse, donkey, dog, etc.); attach by a harness, as to a vehicle.
7.
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.
8.
Archaic. to array in armor or equipments of war.
Idioms
9.
in double harness. (def 2).
10.
in harness,

/ˈhɑːnɪs/
noun
1.
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
2.
something resembling this, esp for attaching something to the body: a parachute harness
3.
(mountaineering) an arrangement of webbing straps that enables a climber to attach himself to the rope so that the impact of a fall is minimized
4.
the total system of electrical leads for a vehicle or aircraft
5.
(weaving) the part of a loom that raises and lowers the warp threads, creating the shed
6.
(archaic) armour collectively
7.
in harness, at one’s routine work
verb (transitive)
8.
to put harness on (a horse)
9.
(usually foll by to) to attach (a draught animal) by means of harness to (a cart, etc)
10.
to control so as to employ the energy or potential power of: to harness the atom
11.
to equip or clothe with armour
n.

c.1300, “personal fighting equipment, body armor,” also “armor or trappings of a war-horse,” from Old French harnois “arms, equipment; harness; male genitalia; tackle; household equipment,” of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old Norse *hernest “provisions for an army,” from herr “army” (see harry) + nest “provisions” (see nostalgia). Non-military sense of “fittings for a beast of burden” is from early 14c. German Harnisch “harness, armor” is the French word, borrowed into Middle High German. The Celtic words also are believed to be from French, as are Spanish arnes, Portuguese arnez, Italian arnese. Prive harness (late 14c.) was a Middle English term for “sex organs.”
v.

“to put a harness on a draught animal,” c.1300, from Old French harneschier, from harnois (see harness (n.)); figurative sense is from 1690s. Related: Harnessed; harnessing.

noun

The dress and equipment of special categories of persons, such as telephone line repairers, police officers, train conductors, motorcyclists, etc: Wise detectives, who dread going back into ”harness” or uniform (1841+)

Related Terms

in harness

(1.) Heb. ‘asar, “to bind;” hence the act of fastening animals to a cart (1 Sam. 6:7, 10; Jer. 46:4, etc.). (2.) An Old English word for “armour;” Heb. neshek (2 Chr. 9:24). (3.) Heb. shiryan, a coat of mail (1 Kings 22:34; 2 Chr. 18:33; rendered “breastplate” in Isa. 59:17). (4.) The children of Israel passed out of Egypt “harnessed” (Ex. 13:18), i.e., in an orderly manner, and as if to meet a foe. The word so rendered is probably a derivative from Hebrew _hamesh_ (i.e., “five”), and may denote that they went up in five divisions, viz., the van, centre, two wings, and rear-guard.

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