[hahr-nis] 
| 1. | the combination of straps, bands, and other parts forming the working gear of a draft animal. Compare yoke 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. wiring harness. |
| 5. | armor for persons or horses. |
| 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. |
| 9. | in double harness. double harness (def. 2). |
| 10. | in harness,
|
| a system of insulated conducting wires bound together with insulating materials, used in the electrical system of a machine, as a motor vehicle or washing machine. |
| har·ness (här'nĭs) n.
[Middle English harnes, from Old French harneis, of Germanic origin; see nes-1 in Indo-European roots.] har'ness·er n. |
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
the gear or tackle other than a yoke of a draft animal (as a horse, dog, or goat). The modern harness appears to have been developed in China some time before AD 500 and to have been in use in Europe by 800
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