harp

harp
{{11}}harp (n.) O.E. hearpe, from P.Gmc. *kharpon- (Cf. O.S. harpa "instrument of torture;" O.N. harpa, Du. harp, O.H.G. harpfa, Ger. 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.
{{12}}harp (v.) O.E. hearpian; see HARP (Cf. harp) (n.). Cognate with M.Du., Du. harpen, M.H.G. harpfen, Ger. harfen. Figurative sense of "talk overmuch" (about something) first recorded mid-15c., originally to harp upon one string. Related: Harped; harping.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Harp — A medieval harp (left) and a single action pedal harp (right) String instrument Hornbostel–Sachs classification 322 5 (Composite chordophone sounded by the bare fingers) …   Wikipedia

  • Harp — (h[aum]rp), n. [OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G. harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.] 1. A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • harp on — ˌharp ˈon [intransitive/transitive] [present tense I/you/we/they harp on he/she/it harps on present participle harping on past tense …   Useful english dictionary

  • harp — [härp] n. [ME < OE hearpe, akin to Ger harfe < Gmc * harpa < IE base * (s)kerb(h) , to bend, curve (> SHRIMP): from the shape of the instrument] 1. a musical instrument with strings stretched vertically in an open, triangular frame… …   English World dictionary

  • Harp — Harp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Harped} (h[aum]rpt) p. pr. & vb. n. {Harping}.] [AS. hearpian. See {Harp}, n.] 1. To play on the harp. [1913 Webster] I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps. Rev. xiv. 2. [1913 Webster] 2. To dwell on or …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Harp — Harp, v. t. To play on, as a harp; to play (a tune) on the harp; to develop or give expression to by skill and art; to sound forth as from a harp; to hit upon. [1913 Webster] Thou st harped my fear aright. Shak. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • harp at — [phrasal verb] harp at (someone) US, informal : to tell (someone) constantly or repeatedly to do something My mother was always harping at me to clean my room. • • • Main Entry: ↑harp …   Useful english dictionary

  • harp\ on — • harp away at • harp on v To mention again and again. In his campaign speeches, Jones harps on his rival s wealth and powerful friends …   Словарь американских идиом

  • harp — ► NOUN ▪ a musical instrument consisting of a frame supporting a graduated series of parallel strings, played by plucking with the fingers. ► VERB (harp on) ▪ talk or write persistently and tediously on a particular topic. DERIVATIVES harper noun …   English terms dictionary

  • harp on — index repeat (state again) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • Harp —   [englisch, hɑːp], Harfe …   Universal-Lexikon

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