Category:Harp

Harp, n. Etym: [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 with the fingers.

2. (Astron.)

Defn: A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.

3. A grain sieve. [Scot.] Æolian harp. See under Æolian. Harp seal (Zoöl.), an arctic seal (Phoca Groenlandica). The adult males have a light-colored body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and the face and throat black. Called also saddler, and saddleback. The immature ones are called bluesides. -- Harp shell (Zoöl.), a beautiful marine gastropod shell of the genus Harpa, of several species, found in tropical seas. See Harpa.

harp Harp, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Harped p. pr. & vb. n. Harping.] Etym: [AS. hearpian. See Harp, n.]

1. To play on the harp. I heard the voice of harpers, harping with their harps. Revelation 14:2.

2. To dwell on or recur to a subject tediously or monotonously in speaking or in writing; to refer to something repeatedly or continually; -- usually with on or upon. "Harpings upon old themes." W. Irving. Harping on what I am, Not what he knew I was. Shak. To harp on one string, to dwell upon one subject with disagreeable or wearisome persistence. [Collog.]

harp Harp, v. t.

Defn: 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. Thou 'harped my fear aright. Shak.

- ---excerpt from the Illustrated Bible Dictionary

Harp - (Heb. kinnor ), the national instrument of the Hebrews. It was invented by Jubal (Genesis 4:21). Some think the word kinnor denotes the whole class of stringed instruments. It was used as an accompaniment to songs of cheerfulness as well as of praise to God (Genesis 31:27; 1 Samuel 16:23; 2 Chronicles 20:28; Psalms 33:2; Psalms 137:2). In Solomon's time harps were made of almug-trees (1 Kings 10:11, 1 Kings 10:12). In 1 Chronicles 15:21 mention is made of "harps on the Sheminith;" Revised Version, "harps set to the Sheminith;" better perhaps "harps of eight strings." The soothing effect of the music of the harp is referred to 1 Samuel 16:16, 1 Samuel 16:23; 1 Samuel 18:10; 1 Samuel 19:9. The church in heaven is represented as celebrating the triumphs of the Redeemer "harping with their harps" (Revelation 14:2).