harpoon

Everyday

1. A harpoon is a long spear with a sharp, hooked point, often tied to a rope, used for catching whales, big fish or seals. tree →
2. To harpoon something is to hit or catch it with a harpoon. tree →

In the lessons

In history lessons harpoons appear in stories of whaling ships and in the lives of Inuit hunters who used harpoons to catch seals. In nature lessons pupils learn that commercial whale hunting is now banned in most countries. Phrases: «harpoon gun», «throw a harpoon».

Examples

• The hunter threw his harpoon at the seal. tree →
• Old whaling ships carried harpoons and long ropes. tree →
• The Inuit carved harpoon points from bone. tree →
• The sailor harpooned a huge fish. tree →
• Today most countries protect whales from harpoons. tree →
• In the museum we saw a rusty harpoon gun. tree →
• The harpoon was flung into the breast of the walrus, so that a smoking stream of blood spurted forth like a fountain, and besprinkled the ice. tree →

Note

Countable. Stress: har-POON. A harpoon has a barb (hook) so it stays in the animal, unlike a simple spear.