Etymology
From Old French harpon, from Latin harpaga, a rare variant of Latin harpagō, from Ancient Greek ἁρπάγη or harpágē (hook), from ἁρπάζω or harpázō (to snatch away, to carry off, to seize, to captivate). Sense and spelling perhaps influenced by Dutch harpoen (harpoon).
Noun
harpoon (plural harpoons)
- A spear-like weapon with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish.
Derived terms
- harpoon fork
- harpoon gun
Verb
harpoon (third-person singular simple present harpoons, present participle harpooning, simple past and past participle harpooned)
- (transitive) To shoot something with a harpoon.
Derived terms
- harpooner
Credits
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