RE: [Harp-L] Why is a harmonica called a harp?

["Stephen Seifert" <stephenseifert@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I got the following from http://www.etymonline.com/:

	harp  
	Old English hearpe, from Proto-Germanic *kharpon- (compare Old Norse
harpa, Dutch harp, Old High German harpfa). Late Latin harpa, source 	of
words in some Romantic languages, is a borrowing from Proto-	Germanic. 

	The verb is Old English hearpian. Fig. sense of "talk overmuch
about" 	first recorded 1513, originally to harp upon one string.

The Jew's harp, except for the overtones, plays one note at a time. A lot of
harmonica playing involves one note at a time. (See above--"to harp upon one
string.")

I think that the word harp has often been used as a generic term for a
musical instrument. 

Also consider H.A.A.R.P.(HIGH FREQUENCY ACTIVE AURORAL RESEARCH PROGRAM)
Just about anything that vibrates could end up being associated with the
word harp. 

Here's some more help from http://www.etymonline.com/:

	harmonica  
	1762, coined by Ben Franklin as the name for a glass harmonica, from
L. fem. of harmonicus (see harmonic); modern sense of "mouth organ" is
1873, Amer.Eng., earlier harmonicon (1825). 

Sounds like the word harmonica is already taken. Let's stick with calling it
a harp...

Here's some info from http://www.archives.nd.edu/cgi-bin/lookup.pl:

	harmonia -ae f. [melody , concord, harmony]. 

	harpago -onis m. [a large hook , drag, grappling-iron].

	harpe -es f. [a curved sword , scimitar].

	Harpyiae (trisyll.) -arum f. pl. [the Harpies , mythical monsters].

I'd like to dig deeper but I've got to get back to work. Any thoughts on all
this stuff?

Stephen Seifert
Nashville, TN
www.stephenseifert.com