First Known Use: 1625
Dictionary
harpoon
noun har·poon \här-ˈpün\
: a long weapon used especially for hunting large fish or whales
Full Definition of HARPOON
: a barbed spear or javelin used especially in hunting large fish or whales
— harpoon transitive verb
— har·poon·er noun
See harpoon defined for English-language learners
See harpoon defined for kids
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Origin of HARPOON
probably from Dutch harpoen, from Middle Dutch, from Old French harpon brooch, from harper to grapple
Rhymes with HARPOON
aswoon, attune, baboon, balloon, bassoon, blue moon, buffoon, Calhoun, Cancún, cardoon, cartoon, cocoon, commune, doubloon, dragoon, festoon, fine-tune, forenoon, full moon, gaboon, gadroon, galloon, Gudrun, half-moon, high noon, immune, impugn, jargoon, jejune, Kowloon, Kunlun, lagoon, lampoon, lardoon, Maine coon, maroon, monsoon, Neptune, new moon, oppugn, Pashtun, patroon, platoon, poltroon, pontoon, premune, puccoon, quadroon, ratoon, repugn, rough-hewn, saloon, Sassoon, shalloon, soupspoon, spittoon, spontoon, teaspoon, tribune, triune, tuchun, tycoon, typhoon, untune, Walloon
HARPOON Defined for Kids
1harpoon
noun har·poon \här-ˈpün\
Definition of HARPOON for Kids
: a barbed spear used especially for hunting whales and large fish
2harpoon
verb
har·poonedhar·poon·ing
Definition of HARPOON for Kids
: to strike with a barbed spear
Medical Dictionary
harpoon
noun har·poon \här-ˈpün\
Medical Definition of HARPOON
: a medical instrument with a barbed head used for removing bits of living tissue for examination
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