HARPINGS

Noun

harpings pl (plural only)

(nautical) The front part of the wales of a vessel, around the bow and fastened to the stem; used to provide protection from the seas.

Anagrams

• phrasing, sharping

Source: Wiktionary

Harp"ings, n. pl. (Naut.)

Definition: The fore parts of the wales, which encompass the bow of a vessel, and are fastened to the stem. [Written also harpins.] Totten.

HARPING

Harp"ing, a.

Definition: Pertaining to the harp; as, harping symphonies. Milton.

HARP

Harp, n. Etym: [OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G.harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.]

1. A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played with the fingers.

2. (Astron.)

Definition: A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.

3. A grain sieve. [Scot.] Æolian harp. See under Æolian. Harp seal (Zoöl.), an arctic seal (Phoca Groenlandica). The adult males have a light-colored body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and the face and throat black. Called also saddler, and saddleback. The immature ones are called bluesides.

– Harp shell (Zoöl.), a beautiful marine gastropod shell of the genus Harpa, of several species, found in tropical seas. See Harpa.

Harp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Harped p. pr. & vb. n. Harping.] Etym: [AS. hearpian. See Harp, n.]

1. To play on the harp. I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps. Rev. xiv. 2.

2. To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to something repeatedly or continually; -- usually with on or upon. "Harpings upon old themes." W. Irving. Harping on what I am, Not what he knew I was. Shak. To harp on one string, to dwell upon one subject with disagreeable or wearisome persistence. [Collog.]

Harp, v. t.

Definition: To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound forth as from a harp; to hit upon. Thou 'harped my fear aright. Shak.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition