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harp

HAHRP · noun

Proto-GermanicProto-West GermanicOld EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Origin

From Middle English harpe, from Old English hearpe, from Proto-West Germanic *harpā, from Proto-Germanic *harpǭ.

Journey

The word has stayed remarkably stable in form and meaning, passing from Old English straight through to modern English as the name of the same instrument.

Related words

It's cognate with West Frisian and Dutch harp, Low German Harp, German Harfe, Danish harpe, Swedish harpa, and Scots hairp — all pointing back to the same Germanic root.

More words

From Proto-West Germanic

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