First recorded in 1585–95; perhaps jocular; earlier called Jew's trump
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It sounds something like a Jew’s harp, but much louder.
From Slate ● Sep. 30, 2018
When he arrived at the spring of Lisnayan in the town of Ībōwan he rested and he sat on the high stone and began to play the bamboo Jew's harp and Īgōwan saw him.
From Traditions of the Tinguian: a Study in Philippine Folk-Lore by Cole, Fay-Cooper
He is a harmless enough fellow, Parker by name, a garroter by trade, and a remarkable performer upon the Jew's harp.
From The Return of Sherlock Holmes by Doyle, Arthur Conan, Sir
The memoirs of Madame de Genlis first made known the astonishing powers of a poor German soldier on the Jew's harp.
From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 269, August 18, 1827 by Various
There he will display his skill with the KELURI, or the Jew's harp, or sing the favourite love-song of the people, varying the words to suit the occasion.
From The Pagan Tribes of Borneo by Haddon, Alfred C. (Alfred Cort)
He likes the Rolling Stones, he plays the jew’s-harp — it’s incredible.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 4, 2019
Ms. Arnold delivered the texts in a half-sung Sprechstimme manner over the drone of a lone jew’s-harp.
From New York Times ● Jun. 1, 2011
But the man who just likes to sing in the bathtub or twang a lick on the jew's-harp has never had a book to tell him where to go from there.
From Time Magazine Archive
The drone of a jew's-harp, which serves as a musical bridge in Up on Cripple Creek, is actually produced by the wah-wah pedal on Garth's clavinette.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Where’s the jew’s-harp, Jo?” cried Laurie, as soon as he was within speaking distance.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
