An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Harfe

by Friedrich Kluge

Harfe, f., ‘harp,’ from the equiv. MidHG. harfe, harpfe, OHG. harfa, harpha, f.; comp. AS. hearpe, f., E. harp; a common Teut. word (Venantius Fortunatus calls harpa a barbaric, i.e. Teut. instrument), denoting a string instrument peculiar to the Teutons. Its use was confined in earlier times to the OTeut. chiefs, just as the violin or fiddle was to the common folk.