Illustration of Jew's harp
Jew's harp
noun
ˈjüz-ˌhärp 
ˈjüs-
variants
or Jews' harp
: a small lyre-shaped instrument that when held between the teeth gives tones from a metal tongue struck by the finger
Word History
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of Jew's harp was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near Jew's harp
Cite this Entry
“Jew's harp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Jew%27s%20harp. Accessed 28 Nov. 2023.
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Kids Definition
Jew's harp
noun
variants
or Jews' harp
: a small simple musical instrument that consists of a flexible metal strip attached at one end to a flat pear-shaped frame and that is played by plucking the strip while holding the frame between the teeth
More from Merriam-Webster on Jew's harp
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Jew's harp
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