harness

/ˈhär-nəs/

Middle English harneys, herneys "equipment of a man-at-arms, body armor, fittings for a draft animal, apparel, baggage," borrowed from Anglo-French herneis, harneis (also continental Old French), probably borrowed from Old Norse *hernest "provisions for an armed force," from herr "host, army" + nest "provisions," going back to Germanic *nesta- (whence also Old English nest "food, provisions," Old High German -nest, in weganest "provisions for a journey"), derivative, with the noun and adjective suffix -to-, from the base of *nesan- "to save, be saved, return safely"

noun

  1. the equipment other than a yoke of a draft animal

  2. gear, equipment; especially : military equipment for a horse or man

  3. occupational surroundings or routine

verb

  1. to put a harness on

  2. to attach by means of a harness

  3. to tie together : yoke

harnessed the ox

harness the horses to the wagon

noun

  1. a horse for racing or working in harness