harp

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“
The young people applauded and Maria Clara kissed her, for the harp is the most popular instrument in that province, and was especially suited to this occasion Sing the hymn about marriage," begged the old women.

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Definitions (38)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (6)

  1. noun Music An instrument having an upright triangular frame consisting of a pillar, a curved neck, and a hollow back containing the sounding board, with usually 46 or 47 strings of graded lengths that are played by plucking with the fingers.
  2. noun Music Any of various ancient and modern instruments of similar construction.
  3. noun Informal Music A harmonica.
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Examples (50)

  • I have had lessons on many instruments; but I think of all of them, the harp is my favorite. —  Trillium 05 - Lady of the Trillium by Marion Zimmer Bradley (v1.0) (html).html
  • The harp that had formerly been his body still functioned perfectly well as a harp, and Haramis had recovered enough to walk down the stairs to the study each morning. —  Trillium 05 - Lady of the Trillium by Marion Zimmer Bradley (v1.0) (html).html
  • I spent some time at a library this morning and discovered that a harp is a symbol of Saint Dunstan. —  AHMM,September2008
  • She had played me like a harp, and I had sung to her tune. —  Carey, Jaqueline - Kushiel's Dart orig
  • Outside the orchestra, the harp is an orchestra in itself, so great is the variety of its timbres! —  Harpblog
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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English, from Old English hearpe and from Old French harpe, of Germanic origin.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. from Middle English harpe, from Anglo-Saxon hearpe = Dutch harp = Middle Low German harpe, herpe = Old High German harpha, Middle High German harpfe, German harfe = Icelandic harpa = Swedish harpa = Danish harpe = Gothic (Moesogothic) *harpō (not recorded, but inferred from the derived Late Latin harpa, later Italian arpa, arpe, Spanish Portuguese Provencal arpa, French harpe), a harp; root unknown. Not connected with Greek ἁρπη, a sickle.
  2. from Middle English harpen, from Anglo-Saxon hearpian, play on the harp, from hearpe, harp: see harp, n.
 

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/hɑrp/
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