harpoon

UK: /hɑː^rˈpuːn/ US: /hɑrˈpun/ ,(här po̅o̅n′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

har•poon /hɑrˈpun/   n. [countable]

1. a spear with a barbed edge attached to a rope, used in hunting whales and large fish.

v. [~ + object]

2. to spear with a harpoon.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

har•poon  (här po̅o̅n′), n. 

1. a barbed, spearlike missile attached to a rope, and thrown by hand or shot from a gun, used for killing and capturing whales and large fish.
2. Military (cap.) a jet-powered, radar-guided U.S. Navy cruise missile with a high explosive warhead designed for use against surface ships and launchable from a surface vessel, submerged submarine, or aircraft.

v.t. 

3. to strike, catch, or kill with or as if with a harpoon.

• Greek: hook) + -on diminutive suffix
• Latin harpē
• Dutch harpoen Old French harpon a clasp, brooch, equivalent. to harp- (
• 1590–1600

har•poon′er, n. 
har•poon′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

harpoon / hɑːˈpuːn/ noun

1. a barbed missile attached to a long cord and hurled or fired from a gun when hunting whales, etc
2. (as modifier): a harpoon gun

verb

1. (transitive) to spear with or as if with a harpoon

Etymology: 17th Century: probably from Dutch harpoen, from Old French harpon clasp, from harper to seize, perhaps of Scandinavian origin

harˈpooner, ˌharpoonˈeer noun