harpoon

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harpoon

harpoon , weapon used for spearing whales and large fish. The early type was a flat triangular piece of metal with barbed edges and a socket for attaching a wooden handle, to the end of which a long rope was fastened. The modern weapon usually has only one barb or point, with a pivoted crosspiece to prevent its withdrawal. Harpoons are used to capture whales, which are then commonly killed by driving a lance into the vital parts. Harpoons may be thrown by hand or fired from guns. These guns are 4 to 5 ft (1.2 m-1.5 m) long, weigh about 75 lb (34 kg), and discharge a harpoon weighing about 100 lb (45.4 kg). Svend Foyn, a Norwegian, invented (c.1856) a harpoon with an explosive-filled tip that kills the whale. A later invention is a harpoon propelled by air pressure with a valve that opens as it strikes, thus admitting air to hasten the whale's death and keep it afloat.

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"harpoon." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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Harpoon

The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military | 2001 | Â© The Oxford Essential Dictionary of the U.S. Military 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Harpoon AGM-84, RGM-84, UGM-84 an antiship cruise missile that is fired from surface ships (RGM-84), aircraft (AGM-84A), or submarines (UGM-84). The radar-guided missile is jet-powered and typically carries a 500-pound conventional warhead.

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harpoon

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

harpoon sb. XVII. — F. harpon, f. harpe dog's claw, cramp-iron, clamp — L. harpē, harpa — Gr. hárpē sickle.
Hence vb. XVIII.

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T. F. HOAD. "harpoon." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 25 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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