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harping iron. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
harping iron, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
harping iron in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
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English
Etymology
From French harper (“to grasp strongly”). See harpoon.
Noun
harping iron (plural harping irons)
- (archaic) A harpoon.
1658 June 13 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, , 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, ; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, , published 1819, →OCLC:it [a whale] was killed with a harping iron , struck in the head
December 9 1667, Richard Norwood, Philosophical Transactions/Volume 2/Number 30, an extract of a letter, page 166:They row up gently to the Whale, and so he will scarcely shun them; and when the Harpineer, standing ready fitted, sees his opportunity, he strikes his Harping-Iron into the Whale about or before the Fins, rather than toward the Tail.
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