in harness
nɪs| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a screen or mat covered with a dark material for shielding a camera lens from excess light or glare. |
1250–1300; Middle English harneis, herneis < Old French herneis baggage, equipment < Old Norse *hernest provisions for an armed force, equivalent to herr army (cf. harbor, herald) + nest provisions for a journey
Related forms
7. control, manage, utilize, exploit.
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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harness (ˈhɑːnɪs) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 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 |
| —vb | |
| 8. | to put harness on (a horse) |
| 9. | ( |
| 10. | to control so as to employ the energy or potential power of: to harness the atom |
| 11. | to equip or clothe with armour |
| [C13: from Old French harneis baggage, probably from Old Norse hernest (unattested) provisions, from herr army + nest provisions] | |
| 'harnesser | |
| —n | |
| 'harnessless | |
| —adj | |
| 'harness-like | |
| —adj | |
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harness
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Harness definition
(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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in harness
On duty or at work. For example, Despite his illness he's determined to continue in harness. It also is put as be back in harness, meaning "to return to duty or work," as in After a long vacation she's finally back in harness. This expression alludes to horses harnessed to perform work. [First half of 1800s] Also see die with one's boots on (in harness).
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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