harping iron

From French harper (“to grasp strongly”). See harpoon.

harping iron (plural harping irons)

1. (archaic) A harpoon.
   • 1658 June 13 (Gregorian calendar)​, John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for June 3 1658]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], volume I, 2nd edition, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC:

     it [a whale] was killed with a harping iron , struck in the head

   • December 9 1667, Richard Norwood, Philosophical Transactions/Volume 2/Number 30, an extract of a letter, page 166:

     They row up gently to the Whale, and so he will scarcely shun them; and when the Harpineer, standing ready fitted, sees his opportunity, he strikes his Harping-Iron into the Whale about or before the Fins, rather than toward the Tail.

• harping iron in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913