- 1a set of strips of leather and metal pieces that is put around a horse’s head and body so that the horse can be controlled and fastened to a carriage, etc. Wordfinderhorsebridle, gallop, harness, horse, paddock, rein, stable, stirrup, tack, thoroughbred Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveleather verb + harnessput on, remove, take off, … prepositionin (a) harness See full entry See related entries: Equine sports
- 2a set of strips of leather, etc. for fastening something to a person’s body or to keep them from moving off or falling a safety harness Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivechild, safety, climbing, … verb + harnesshave on, wear, do up, … prepositionin a/the harness See full entry Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French harneis ‘military equipment’, from Old Norse, from herr ‘army’ + nest ‘provisions’.Extra examples She fastened the safety harness tightly around her waist before starting the descent. a horse in harness The sight of horses in harness hauling timber was common a hundred years ago.Idioms
(British English) doing your normal work, especially after a rest or a holiday
(British English) working closely with somebody in order to achieve something They’ll be working in harness with other doctors to compile the report.
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