The Collaborative International Dictionary
Harpagon
Harpagon \Har"pa*gon\ (-g[o^]n), n. [L. harpago, Gr. "arpa`gh hook, rake.] A grappling iron. [Obs.]
Wiktionary
harpagon
n. (context obsolete English) a grappling hook
Usage examples of "harpagon".
And for Ernest, or anyone else, to call his brother a Mzabite was the same as comparing him to Harpagon.