Definition of HARPOON

harpoon

Plural: harpoons

Noun

  • a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it
  • A spearlike weapon with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish.
  • A sharp tip within a disposable syringe, used to penetrate the stopper.
  • A harmonica.

Verb

  • spear with a harpoon
    • "harpoon whales"
  • To shoot something with a harpoon.
  • -ED, -ING, -S to strike with a harpoon

Origin / Etymology

From Old French harpon, from Latin harpaga, a rare variant of Latin harpagō, from Ancient Greek ἁρπάγη (harpágē, “hook”), from ἁρπάζω (harpázō, “to snatch away, to carry off, to seize, to captivate”). Sense and spelling perhaps influenced by Dutch harpoen (“harpoon”). Doublet of harpagon.

Scrabble Score: 12

harpoon: valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
harpoon: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
harpoon: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 13

harpoon is a valid Words With Friends word