Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Jew's harp

noun \ ˈjüz-ˌhärp , ˈjüs- \
variants: or Jews' harp

Definition of Jew's harp

: a small lyre-shaped instrument that when held between the teeth gives tones from a metal tongue struck by the finger

See Jew's harp defined for kids

Illustration of jew's harp

illustration of jew's harp

First Known Use of jew's harp

1595

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year
NEW! Time Traveler

Learn More about jew's harp

  1. See words that rhyme with Jew's harp

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up Jew's harp? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

volatile

play

subject to rapid or unexpected change

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. probity 'adherence to the highest principles and ideals'

  2. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  3. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  4. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

  5. emolument 'the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Jew
Jew's harp

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games