Jew's harp

or Jews' harp

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noun

(sometimes lowercase) a small, simple musical instrument consisting of a lyre-shaped metal frame containing a metal tongue, which is plucked while the frame is held in the teeth, the vibrations causing twanging tones.

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Origin of Jew's harp

First recorded in 1585–95; perhaps jocular; earlier called Jew's trump

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Jew's harp in a sentence

It marked a groundbreaking moment in how the country viewed Jews, especially Jewish women.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As of 2013, Jews make up 1.8 to 2.2 percent of the adult U.S. population.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I stood with a tape recorder, listening to men denounce the liberal media controlled by Jews.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
And for those on the Palestinian right who still dream of driving the Jews into the sea, they too can forget it.
In the Middle East, the Two-State Solution Is Dead|Dean Obeidallah|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Divorcees, Jews, and new money were excluded from the Knickerbockers.
The Real-Life ‘Downton’ Millionairesses Who Changed Britain|Tim Teeman|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was thrashed at school before the Jews and the hubshi, for the heinous crime of bringing home false reports of progress.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
A glorious vision, in which the prophet's lips are cleansed: he foretelleth the obstinacy of the Jews.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
The bill to remove the civil disabilities of the Jews rejected in the British parliament by a vote of 288 to 165.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The name of a child that is to be born: many evils shall come upon the Jews for their sins.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
John and Judas became the good and evil Wandering Jews of mediæval folklore.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway

British Dictionary definitions for Jew's harp

jew's-harp

noun

a musical instrument consisting of a small lyre-shaped metal frame held between the teeth, with a steel tongue plucked with the finger. Changes in pitch are produced by varying the size of the mouth cavities

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012