HARPOON', noun [Gr. to seize with the claws; probably Latin rapio, by transposition of letters.] A harping-iron; a spear or javelin, used to strike whales for killing them. It consists of a long shank, with a broad flat triangular head, sharpened at both edges for penetrating the whale with facility. It is generally thrown by hand. HARPOON', verb transitive To strike, catch or kill with a harpoon The beluga is usually caught in nets, but is sometimes harpooned.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI