Harp (härp), n. [OE. harpe, AS. hearpe; akin to D. harp, G. harfe, OHG. harpha, Dan. harpe, Icel. & Sw. harpa.] 1. A musical instrument consisting of a triangular frame furnished with strings and sometimes with pedals, held upright, and played with the fingers.
2. (Astron.) A constellation; Lyra, or the Lyre.
3. A grain sieve.
Æolian harp. See under Æolian.
Harp seal(Zoöl.), an arctic seal (Phoca Grœnlandica). The adult males have a light-colored body, with a harp-shaped mark of black on each side, and the face and throat black. Called also saddler, and saddleback. The immature ones are called bluesides. — Harp shell(Zoöl.), a beautiful marine gastropod shell of the genus Harpa, of several species, found in tropical seas. See Harpa.