Accordion
/əˈkɔːr.di.ən/noun
A portable musical instrument with bellows, keys or buttons, and metal reeds.
Did you know?Accordion was coined in the 19th century and is usually linked to German Akkord, meaning a musical chord or concord, which ultimately goes back to the Latin idea of being “in agreement.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*ḱerd-
“heart; that which is at the center”
Latin
Latin
cor, cordis
“heart”
Latin
Latin
accordāre
“to bring to agreement; to make harmonious”
French
French
accord
“agreement; harmony in music”
German
German
Akkord
“musical chord; concord”
1820s
English
accordion
“a newly coined name for the bellows-driven keyboard instrument”