- a set of narrow pieces of leather and metal pieces that is put around the head and body of an animal, especially a horse, so that the animal can be controlled and fastened to a carriage, etc.
- The sight of horses in harness hauling timber was common a hundred years ago.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- leather
- put on
- remove
- take off
- …
- in (a) harness
- a set of straps (= long narrow pieces of a strong material) for fastening something to a person’s body or to keep them from moving off or falling
- She fastened the safety harness tightly around her waist before starting the descent.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- child
- safety
- climbing
- …
- have on
- wear
- do up
- …
- in a/the harness
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French harneis ‘military equipment’, from Old Norse, from herr ‘army’ + nest ‘provisions’.
Idioms
See harness in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryin harness
- (British English) doing your normal work, especially after a rest or a holiday
in harness (with somebody)
- (British English) working closely with somebody in order to achieve something
- They’ll be working in harness with other doctors to compile the report.
Check pronunciation:
harness