ONLINE ETYMOLOGY DICTIONARY
- 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, American English, earlier harmonicon (1825).
- 1560s, "relating to music;" earlier (c.1500) armonical "tuneful, harmonious," from L. harmonicus, from Gk. harmonikos "harmonic, musical, skilled in music," from harmonia (see harmony). Meaning "relating to harmony" is from 1660s. The noun, short for harmionic tone, is recorded from 1777.
- late 14c., from O.Fr. armonie "harmony," also the name of a musical instrument (12c.), from L. harmonia, from Gk. harmonia "agreement, concord of sounds," also as a proper name, the personification of music, lit. "means of joining," used of ship-planks, etc., also "settled government, order," related to harmos "fastenings of a door; shoulder," from PIE *ar-ti-, from *ar- "to fit together" (see arm (n.1)). Musical sense is oldest in English; that of "agreement of feeling, concord" is from late 14c.
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