Arrow vs. Harpoon — What's the Difference?

An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers called fletchings mounted near the rear, and a slot at the rear end called nock for engaging the bowstring.

A harpoon is a long spear-like instrument and tool used in fishing, whaling, sealing, and other marine hunting to catch large fish or marine mammals such as whales. It accomplishes this task by impaling the target animal and securing it with barb or toggling claws, allowing the fishermen to use a rope or chain attached to the projectile to catch the animal.

A weapon consisting of a thin, straight stick with a sharp point, designed to be shot from a bow

A barbed spear attached to a rope and thrown or fired from a gun, used especially in whaling.

Move or appear to move swiftly and directly

To strike, kill, or capture with or as if with a harpoon.

A missile having a straight thin shaft and typically having a pointed head at one end and flight-stabilizing vanes at the tail end, meant to be shot from a bow.

A spearlike weapon with a barbed head used in hunting whales and large fish.

Something, such as a directional symbol, that is similar to an arrow in form or function.

(slang) A harmonica.

To move like an arrow.

(transitive) To shoot something with a harpoon.

To shoot with an arrow

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, flat, triangular head, sharpened at both edges, and is thrown by hand, or discharged from a gun.

A projectile consisting of a shaft, a point and a tail with stabilizing fins that is shot from a bow.

To strike, catch, or kill with a harpoon.

A sign or symbol used to indicate a direction (e.g. →).

A spear with a shaft and barbed point for throwing; used for catching large fish or whales; a strong line is attached to it

(graph theory) A directed edge.

Spear with a harpoon;

A dart.

(computing) The -> symbol, which has specific meanings in various programming languages.

(botany) The inflorescence or tassel of a mature sugar cane plant.

(intransitive) To move swiftly and directly (like an arrow).

(transitive) To let fly swiftly and directly.

To develop an inflorescence.

To navigate using the arrow keys.

A missile weapon of offense, slender, pointed, and usually feathered and barbed, to be shot from a bow.

A mark to indicate a direction or relation

A projectile with a straight thin shaft and an arrowhead on one end and stabilizing vanes on the other; intended to be shot from a bow