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HARPOON (from Fr. harpon, a grappling-iron, O. Fr. harpy, a dog's claw, an iron clamp for fastening stones together; the source of these words is the Lat. harpago, harpa, &c., formed from Gr. apaayit, hook, apsrh c , to snatch, tear away, cf. " harpy ")
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HARPOON (from Fr. harpon, a grappling-iron, O. Fr. harpy, a dog's claw, an iron clamp for fastening stones together; the source of these words is the Lat. harpago, harpa, &c., formed from Gr. apaayit, hook, apsrh c , to snatch, tear away, cf. " harpy "), barbed spear, particularly one used for spearing whales or other large fish, and either thrown by hand or fired from a gun (see WHALE-FISHERY).