| 释义 |
Jews' harp
(Also sometimes with small j.)
[A variant of Jews' trump, q.v.]
1. A musical instrument of simple construction, consisting of an elastic steel tongue fixed at one end to a small lyre-shaped frame of brass or iron, and bent at the other end at right angles; it is played by holding the frame between the teeth and striking the free end of the metal tongue with the finger, variations of tone being produced by altering the size and shape of the cavity of the mouth. Called also Jews' trump.
double Jews'-harp: one having two tongues.
1595R. Duddeley in Hakluyt Voy. III. 576 If they would bring him hatchets, kniues, and Iewes-harps, he bid them assure me, he..would trade with me. c1596Raleigh ibid. 665 Wee should send them Iewes harpes: for they would giue for euery one two Hennes. 1626Bacon Sylva §116 As for the Iewes Harpe, it is a sharpe Percussion; And besides, hath the vantage of penning the Aire in the Mouth. 1742Fielding J. Andrews i. vii, Thou canst make a mole hill appear as a mountain; a Jew's-harp sound like a trumpet. 1762B. Thornton (title) An Ode on St. Cecilia's Day, adapted to the ancient British musick, viz. the Saltbox, the Jews-harp, the Marrow-bones and Cleavers. 1774Pennant Tour Scotl. in 1769 I. 194 The trump, or Jew's harp, would not merit the mention among the Highland instruments of Musick, if it was not to prove its origin and antiquity. 1787Hawkins Johnson 477 They..are lovers of music and dancing, but know no instrument save the jews' harp. 1820Byron Blues i. 60 The Jews' harp he nick⁓names his lyre. 1836Smart Dict., Jew's harp. 1865Lubbock Preh. Times xiii. (1869) 443 Their musical instruments are..a Jew's-harp made of a strip of bamboo. 1880Grove Dict. Music, Jew's harp. 1882Ogilvie, 1885 Cassell, 1890 Cent. Dict., Jews'-harp. 1893Leland Mem. I. 206 Quite as marvellous..was the Doctor's own performance on the single and double Jew's harp.
2. transf.
a. Naut. ‘The shackle for joining a chain-cable to the anchor-ring’ (Smyth Sailor's Word-bk. 1867), shaped like the frame of the musical instrument.
b. attrib. Applied to a staple of similar form.
1750T. R. Blanckley Naval Expos. 83 Jews Harps, are made of Iron, and of such Substance and suitable Strength, as to be sufficient to hold the Pendant Chain where the Moaring Cable is bent to the Ring, and secured by a Forelock. 1794Rigging & Seamanship II. 281 A link called a jew's harp, through which the bridle or hawser of a ship, when moored, is passed. 1794W. Felton Carriages (1801) I. 76 It is fixed on the axletree by a Jew's harp staple.
Hence Jews'-harper, one who plays the Jews' harp.
1790By-stander 105 Joah called the Muses ballad-singers, Apollo a jews-harper. |