King James Bible Dictionary

1. Heb. asar, "to bind;" hence the act of fastening animals to a cart (1 Samuel 6:7, 10; Jeremiah 46:4, etc.).

2. An Old English word for "armour;" Heb. neshek (2 Chronicles 9:24).

3. Heb. shiryan, a coat of mail (1 Kings 22:34; 2 Chronicles 18:33; rendered "breastplate" in Isaiah 59:17).

4. The children of Israel passed out of Egypt "harnessed" (Exodus 13:18), i.e., in an orderly manner, and as if to meet a foe. The word so rendered is probably a derivative from Hebrew hamesh (i.e., "five"), and may denote that they went up in five divisions, viz., the van, centre, two wings, and rear-guard.

H'ARNESS, noun

1. Armor; the whole accouterments or equipments of a knight or horseman; originally perhaps defensive armor, but in a more modern and enlarged sense, the furniture of a military man, or offensive, as a casque, cuirass, helmet, girdle, sword, buckler, etc.

2. The furniture of a draught horse, whether for a wagon, coach, gig, chaise, etc., called in some of the American states, tackle or tackling, with which, in its primary sense, it is synonymous.

H'ARNESS, verb transitive To dress in armor; to equip with armor for war, as a horseman.

Harnessed in rugged steel.

1. To put on the furniture of a horse for draught.

Harness the horses. Jeremiah 46:4.

2. To defend; to equip or furnish for defense. 1 Macc.4.

H'ARNESSED, participle passive Equipped with armor; furnished with the dress for draught; defended.

H'ARNESSER, noun One who puts on the harness of a horse.

H'ARNESSING, participle present tense Putting on armor or furniture for draught.