harness definition, harness meaning | English dictionary. Search also in: Web News Encyclopedia Images. harness. n. 1 an arrangement of leather straps buckled or looped together, fitted to a draught animal in order that the animal can be attached to and pull a cart. 2 something resembling this, esp. for attaching something to the body. a parachute harness. 3 (Mountaineering) an arrangement of webbing straps that enables a climber to attach himself to the rope so that the impact of a fall is minimized.