harpoon

n. Barbed spearlike missile with a rope attached, for catching whales etc. v. Spear with a harpoon. [greek harpe sickle]

n. 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.