[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

harness \har"ness\ -ne^s, n. oe. harneis, harnes, of.
   harneis, f. harnais, harnois; of celtic origin; cf. armor.
   harnez old iron, armor, w. haiarn iron, armor. houarn, ir.
   iarann, gael. iarunn. cf. iron.
   1. originally, the complete dress, especially in a military
      sense, of a man or a horse; hence, in general, armor.
      1913 webster

            at least we'll die with harness on our back. --shak.
      1913 webster

   2. the equipment of a draught or carriage horse, for drawing
      a wagon, coach, chaise, etc.; gear; tackling.
      1913 webster

   3. 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.
      1913 webster

   to die in harness, to die with armor on; hence,
      colloquially, to die while actively engaged in work or
      duty.
      1913 webster
see also:
iron to die in harness 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

harness \har"ness\, v. t. imp.  p. p. harnessed -ne^st;
   p. pr.  vb. n. harnessing. oe. harneisen; cf. f.
   harnacher, of. harneschier.
   1. to dress in armor; to equip with armor for war, as a
      horseman; to array.
      1913 webster

            harnessed in rugged steel.            --rowe.
      1913 webster

            a gay dagger,
            harnessed well and sharp as point of spear.
                                                  --chaucer.
      1913 webster

   2. fig.: to equip or furnish for defense. --dr. h. more.
      1913 webster

   3. to make ready for draught; to equip with harness, as a
      horse. also used figuratively.
      1913 webster

            harnessed to some regular profession. --j. c.
                                                  shairp.
      1913 webster

   harnessed antelope. zool. see guib.

   harnessed moth zool., an american bombycid moth arctia
      phalerata of harris, having, on the fore wings, stripes
      and bands of buff on a black ground.
      1913 webster
see also:
harnessed harnessing harnessed antelope guib harnessed moth arctia phalerata 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

harness
     n 1: a support consisting of an arrangement of straps for holding
          something to the body especially one supporting a
          person suspended from a parachute
     2: stable gear consisting of an arrangement of leather straps
        fitted to a draft animal so that it can be attached to and
        pull a cart
     v 1: put a harness; "harness the horse" syn: tackle ant: unharness
     2: exploit the power of; "harness natural forces and resources"
     3: control and direct with or as if by reins; "rein a horse"
        syn: rein in, draw rein, rein
     4: keep in check; "rule one's temper" syn: rule, rein
see also:
tackle unharness rein in draw rein rein rule 

[4] : Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0

115 moby thesaurus words for "harness":
   accouterments, armature, armor, armor plate, back band, backstrap,
   bearing rein, bed, bed down, bellyband, bit, blinders, blinds,
   body armor, break, breeching, bridle, brolly, brush, buckler,
   bulletproof vest, caparison, cavesson, chain armor, chain mail,
   checkrein, cheekpiece, chinband, chute, cinch, coat of mail,
   collar, cortex, couple, crownband, crupper, curb, curry, currycomb,
   drench, drogue chute, feed, fetter, fodder, furnishings,
   gag swivel, gentle, getup, girth, groom, habergeon, hackamore,
   halter, hames, hametugs, handle, hauberk, headgear, headstall,
   hip straps, hitch, hitch up, hook up, jaquima, jerk line, lines,
   litter, livery, mail, manage, martingale, milk, needles, noseband,
   outfit, pack, panoply, parachute, parachute jump, plate armor,
   pole strap, protective covering, reins, ribbons, rig, rub down,
   saddle, shaft tug, shell, shield, shroud lines, side check,
   sky dive, snaffle, spines, suit of armor, surcingle, tack, tackle,
   tame, tend, tether, thick skin, things, train, trappings,
   trousseau, tug, turnout, umbrella, vent, wardrobe, water,
   winker braces, yoke

[5] : Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary

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.
   

Harness >> H Words
Harness, definition of term: Harness
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