v. [UN-2 4, 4 b. Cf. Du. and Flem. ontharnassen to disarm (exarmare, Kilian).]
1. trans. To divest of armor. Also fig.
c. 1435. Torr. Portugal, 302. Blythe then wase that lady jent, For to on-harnes Torrent.
1549. Coverdale, etc., Erasm. Par. Col. ii. 6. Then declared he them freely and playnly to be ouercommen and vnharnysed, when he caryed vs about as it were in a triumphe.
1552. Huloet, Vnharnayes exarmo.
1802. James, Milit. Dict., Unharnessed, disarmed, divested of armour or weapons of offence.
2. To free (horses, etc.) from harness; to unyoke. Also fig. and (in recent use) absol.
1611. Cotgr., Desharnacher, to vnharnesse, or vntrap; to take off the furniture from a horse.
16435. Milton, Divorce, II. xxi. When two unfortunately met are by the Canon forct to draw in that yoke till death unharnesse em.
1697. Dryden, Virg. Past., II. 96. The sweating steers, unharnessed from the yoke, Bring, as in triumph, back the crooked plough.
1746. Phil. Trans., XLIV. 296. The Carter drove him home; but, as soon as he had unharnessed him, the poor Creature droppd down dead immediately.
1799. Hull Advertiser, 2 Feb., 2/4. A number of respectable inhabitants unharnessed the cattle from his carriage.
1852. Grote, Greece, II. lxxi. IX. 203. Xenophon unharnessing a waggon-bullock , immediately offered sacrifice.
1894. Westm. Gaz., 10 June, 5/1. He had to leave off helping to unharness the horse.
Hence Unharnessing vbl. sb.
1856. Lever, Martins of Cro M., xv. Grooming, and shoeing, and unharnessing went on with noise and merriment.