1859. Matsell, Vocabulum, s.v. Harman Beak. The Sheriff.
Harmans, subs. (Old Cant).—The stocks. [The suffix ‘mans’ is common; Cf., lightmans, darkmans, roughmans, etc.]
1567. Harman, Caveat (1814), p. 66. The harmans, the stockes.
1610. Rowlands, Martin Mark-All, p. 39 (H. Club’s Rept., 1874). Harmons the stockes. [[274]]
1690. B. E., Dict. Cant. Crew, s.v.
1714. Memoirs of John Hall (4th ed.), p. 12, s.v.
1725. New Cant. Dict., s.v.
1785. Grose, Vulg. Tongue, s.v.
Harness. In Harness, adj. phr. (colloquial).—In business; at work: as, to die in harness = to die at one’s post; to get back into harness = to resume work after a holiday. [Harness also = armour.]
1872. Fun, 10 Aug. ‘Over.’ Aye! But the sting of it’s here, Just as I’m back into harness, Others are off to sea, mountain, and mere.