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Added 10 October 2026

harmonica

/ˌhɑɹˈmɒ.nɪ.kə/ noun

Latin root: harmonicus Coined: a coined word, by Benjamin Franklin Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about harmonica at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A small rectangular free-reed instrument having a row of free reeds set back in air holes and played by blowing into the desired hole.

Origin

From armonica. Coined by American polymath and statesman Benjamin Franklin to refer to his glass harmonica, an instrument that predated the small wind instrument by several decades. Doublet of harmonic; compare Latin harmonicus.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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