(Also sometimes with small j.) [A variant of JEWS’ TRUMP, q.v.]
1. A musical instrument of simple construction, consisting of an elastic steel tongue fixed at one end to a small lyre-shaped frame of brass or iron, and bent at the other end at right angles; it is played by holding the frame between the teeth and striking the free end of the metal tongue with the finger, variations of tone being produced by altering the size and shape of the cavity of the mouth. Called also Jews’ trump.
Double Jews’-harp: one having two tongues.
1595. R. Duddeley, in Hakluyt, Voy., III. 576. If they would bring him hatchets, kniues, and Iewes-harps, he bid them assure me, he … would trade with me.
c. 1596. Raleigh, ibid. 665. Wee should send them Iewes harpes: for they would giue for euery one two Hennes.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 116. As for the Iewes Harpe, it is a sharpe Percussion; And besides, hath the vantage of penning the Aire in the Mouth.
1742. Fielding, J. Andrews, I. vii. Thou canst make a mole hill appear as a mountain; a Jew’s-harp sound like a trumpet.
1762. B. Thornton (title), An Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day, adapted to the ancient British musick, viz. the Saltbox, the Jews-harp, the Marrow-bones and Cleavers.
1774. Pennant, Tour Scotl. in 1769, I. 194. The trump, or Jew’s harp, would not merit the mention among the Highland instruments of Musick, if it was not to prove its origin and antiquity.
1787. Hawkins, Johnson, 477. They … are lovers of music and dancing, but know no instrument save the jews’ harp.
1820. Byron, Blues, I. 60. The Jews’ harp he nicknames his lyre.
1836. Smart, Dict., Jew’s harp.
1865. Lubbock, Preh. Times, xiii. (1869), 443. Their musical instruments are … a Jew’s-harp made of a strip of bamboo.
1880. Grove, Dict. Music, Jew’s harp.
1882. Ogilvie.
1885. Cassell.
1890. Cent. Dict., Jews’-harp.
1893. Leland, Mem., I. 206. Quite as marvellous … was the Doctor’s own performance on the single and double Jew’s harp.
2. transf. a. Naut. ‘The shackle for joining a chain-cable to the anchor-ring’ (Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., 1867), shaped like the frame of the musical instrument. b. attrib. Applied to a staple of similar form.
1750. Blanckley, Nav. Expos., 83. Jews Harps, are made of Iron, and of such Substance and suitable Strength, as to be sufficient to hold the Pendant Chain where the Moaring Cable is bent to the Ring, and secured by a Forelock.
1794. Rigging & Seamanship, II. 281. A link called a jew’s harp, through which the bridle or hawser of a ship, when moored, is passed.
1794. W. Felton, Carriages (1801), I. 76. It is fixed on the axletree by a Jew’s harp staple.
Hence Jews’-harper, one who plays the jews’-harp.
1790. By-stander, 105. Joah called the Muses ballad-singers, Apollo a jews-harper.
