harpoon

/ˈhɑrˌpun/

/hɑˈpun/

Other forms: harpoons; harpooned; harpooning

A harpoon is a long spear that's barbed. To harpoon is to strike an animal, like a whale, with a harpoon. If you are Moby Dick, you steer clear of harpoons.

There are many weapons people use to hunt, such as guns, knives, and spears. When people hunt sea life such as whales and sharks, they use a type of spear called a harpoon. A harpoon is long like a spear, but it's also barbed, so when it penetrates an animal, it sticks in. The hunter throws the harpoon, and it has a line attached to it — much like a fishing line. Hunting animals in this way is called harpooning.

Definitions of harpoon

1. noun

   a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it
   type of:

   fishgig, fizgig, gig, lance, spear

   an implement with a shaft and barbed point used for catching fish
2. verb

   spear with a harpoon
   “harpoon whales”

   type of:

   catch, grab, take hold of

   take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of