v. [UN-2 4, 4 b. Cf. Du. and Flem. ontharnassen to disarm (‘exarmare,’ Kilian).]

1

  1.  trans. To divest of armor. Also fig.

2

c. 1435.  Torr. Portugal, 302. Blythe then wase that lady jent, For to on-harnes Torrent.

3

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.

4

1552.  Huloet, Vnharnayes exarmo.

5

1802.  James, Milit. Dict., Unharnessed, disarmed, divested of armour or weapons of offence.

6

  2.  To free (horses, etc.) from harness; to unyoke. Also fig. and (in recent use) absol.

7

1611.  Cotgr., Desharnacher, to vnharnesse, or vntrap; to take off the furniture from a horse.

8

1643–5.  Milton, Divorce, II. xxi. When two unfortunately met are by the Canon forc’t to draw in that yoke … till death unharnesse ’em.

9

1697.  Dryden, Virg. Past., II. 96. The sweating steers, unharnessed from the yoke, Bring, as in triumph, back the crooked plough.

10

1746.  Phil. Trans., XLIV. 296. The Carter drove him home; but, as soon as he had unharnessed him, the poor Creature … dropp’d down dead immediately.

11

1799.  Hull Advertiser, 2 Feb., 2/4. A number of respectable inhabitants unharnessed the cattle from his carriage.

12

1852.  Grote, Greece, II. lxxi. IX. 203. Xenophon unharnessing a waggon-bullock…, immediately offered sacrifice.

13

1894.  Westm. Gaz., 10 June, 5/1. He had to leave off helping to unharness the horse.

14

  Hence Unharnessing vbl. sb.

15

1856.  Lever, Martins of Cro’ M., xv. Grooming, and shoeing, and unharnessing went on with … noise and merriment.

16