Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Harpoon \Har*poon"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Harpooned}; p. pr. &
   vb. n. {Harpooning}.]
   To strike, catch, or kill with a harpoon.

Harpoon \Har*poon"\, n. [F. harpon, LL. harpo, perh. of Ger.
   origin, fr. the harp; cf. F. harper to take and grasp
   strongly, harpe a dog's claw, harpin boathook (the sense of
   hook coming from the shape of the harp); but cf. also Gr. ?
   the kite, sickle, and E. harpy. Cf. {Harp}.]
   A spear or javelin used to strike and kill large fish, as
   whales; a harping iron. It consists of a long shank, with a
   broad, fiat, triangular head, sharpened at both edges, and is
   thrown by hand, or discharged from a gun.

   {Harpoon fork}, a kind of hayfork, consisting of bar with
      hinged barbs at one end a loop for a rope at the other
      end, used for lifting hay from the load by horse power.

   {Harpoon gun}, a gun used in the whale fishery for shooting
      the harpoon into a whale.

Source : WordNet®

harpoon
     n : a spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for
         catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached
         to it
     v : spear with a harpoon; "harpoon whales"