harp
[hahrp]
- a musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame formed by a soundbox, a pillar, and a curved neck, and having strings stretched between the soundbox and the neck that are plucked with the fingers.
- anything that resembles this instrument, especially in having a row of parallel strings or wires, as various mechanical devices or kitchen implements for slicing cheese.
- a vertical metal frame shaped to bend around the bulb in a standing lamp and used to support a lamp shade.
- Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of Irish birth or descent.
- Also called harper. any of several English coins issued for use in Ireland during the 16th and 17th centuries, bearing the figure of a harp on the reverse.
- South Midland and Southern U.S. a mouth harp; harmonica.
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- to play on a harp.
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- harp on/upon, to dwell on persistently or tediously in speaking or writing: He was always harping on the importance of taking vitamin supplements.
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Origin of harp
before 900; Middle English harpe, Old English hearpe; cognate with Dutch harp, German Harfe, Old Norse harpa
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for harp
Contemporary Examples
They often harp on the indiscretion, such as an affair, and not the larger picture.
“My job was to assess their fear and then harp on that fear, capitalize on that fear and get them to buy,” said Maddox, 33.
I've been harping on this theme for nearly a decade now, and now it's time to harp again.
Later he started playing classical guitar and then the harp.
Through March 2012, HARP was only permitted to refinance mortgages that were up to 125 percent of the value of a home.
Historical Examples
So he invented or improved the harp, and fixed the rules of verse and song.
Welsh Fairy TalesWilliam Elliott Griffis
He sat down, back of the harp, and made ready to sweep the strings.
Welsh Fairy TalesWilliam Elliott Griffis
The bard had come to see whether the stories about the harp were true or not.
Welsh Fairy TalesWilliam Elliott Griffis
So word was passed for Allan, and presently he came, bringing his harp.
The Merry Adventures of Robin HoodHoward Pyle
Orpheus went into the woods one day and took nothing but his harp with him.
Classic MythsMary Catherine Judd
harp
- a large triangular plucked stringed instrument consisting of a soundboard connected to an upright pillar by means of a curved crossbar from which the strings extend downwards. The strings are tuned diatonically and may be raised in pitch either one or two semitones by the use of pedals (double-action harp). Basic key: B major; range: nearly seven octaves
- something resembling this, esp in shape
- an informal name (esp in pop music) for harmonica
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- (intr) to play the harp
- (tr) archaic to speak; utter; express
- (intr; foll by on or upon) to speak or write in a persistent and tedious manner
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Word Origin
Old English hearpe; related to Old Norse harpa, Old High German harfa, Latin corbis basket, Russian korobit to warp
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for harp
n.
Old English hearpe, from Proto-Germanic *kharpon- (cf. Old Saxon harpa "instrument of torture;" Old Norse harpa, Dutch harp, Old High German harpfa, German Harfe "harp"). Late Latin harpa, source of words in some Romanic languages, is a borrowing from Germanic. Meaning "harmonica" is from 1887, short for mouth-harp. The harp seal (1784) is so called for the harp-shaped markings on its back.
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v.
Old English hearpian; see harp (n.). Cognate with Middle Dutch, Dutch harpen, Middle High German harpfen, German harfen. Figurative sense of "talk overmuch" (about something) first recorded mid-15c., originally to harp upon one string. Related: Harped; harping.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
harp
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.