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Harness vs Halter - What's the difference?

harness | halter | Synonyms |

As nouns the difference between harness and halter

is that harness is a restraint or support, especially one consisting of a loop or network of rope or straps while halter is a bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.

As verbs the difference between harness and halter

is that harness is to place a harness on something; to tie up or restrain while halter is to place a halter on.

harness

English

Noun

(es)
  • (countable) A restraint or support, especially one consisting of a loop or network of rope or straps.
  • (countable) A collection of wires or cables bundled and routed according to their function.
  • (dated) The complete dress, especially in a military sense, of a man or a horse; armour in general.
  • * 1606 William Shakespeare, Macbeth , act V, scene V
    • Ring the alarum-bell! Blow, wind! come, wrack!
    At least we'll die with harness on our back.
  • The part of a loom comprising the heddles, with their means of support and motion, by which the threads of the warp are alternately raised and depressed for the passage of the shuttle.

    • Derived terms

    * harnessed antelope * harnessed moth * test harness

    Verb

    (es)
  • To place a harness on something; to tie up or restrain.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2013, month=July-August, author=(Henry Petroski)
    • , title= Geothermal Energy , volume=101, issue=4, magazine=(American Scientist) , passage=Ancient nomads, wishing to ward off the evening chill and enjoy a meal around a campfire, had to collect wood and then spend time and effort coaxing the heat of friction out from between sticks to kindle a flame. With more settled people, animals were harnessed to capstans or caged in treadmills to turn grist into meal.}}
  • To capture, control or put to use.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-08-16, author= John Vidal
    • , volume=189, issue=10, page=8, magazine=(The Guardian Weekly) , title= Dams endanger ecology of Himalayas , passage=Most of the Himalayan rivers have been relatively untouched by dams near their sources. Now the two great Asian powers, India and China, are rushing to harness them as they cut through some of the world's deepest valleys.}}

    See also

    * (wikipedia "harness") *

    halter

    English

    (wikipedia halter)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) halter, helter, helfter, from (etyl) .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A bitless headpiece of rope or straps, placed on the head of animals such as cattle or horses to lead or tie them.
  • A rope with a noose, for hanging criminals; the gallows rope.
  • *, II.12:
    • And Crates said, that love was cured with hunger, if not by time; and in him that liked not these two meanes, by the halter .
  • *{{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , chapter=4, title= Lord Stranleigh Abroad , passage=“
  • A woman's garment covering the upper chest, a halter top.
    • Synonyms
    * headstall * headpiece * headcollar (British)

    Verb

  • To place a halter on.
    • What do you mean, you didn't halter the horses when we stopped for the night?

    Etymology 2

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One who halts or limps; a cripple.

    • Anagrams

    * * ----