Harmonium
/hɑːrˈmoʊniəm/noun
A keyboard instrument with free reeds, played by pumping air with foot-operated bellows.
Did you know?Harmonium ultimately comes from Greek harmonia, meaning “joining” or “fitting together,” a word tied to the idea that the cosmos could be held together by hidden proportion.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
harmonía
“A joining, agreement, or fitting together; also musical concord.”
Late Latin
Latin
harmonia
“Harmony or concord, especially in music.”
18th Century
English
harmonium
“A name later applied to a reed keyboard instrument designed to produce sustained harmonic sound.”
19th Century
English
harmonium
“The established English name for the free-reed pump organ.”
Modern English
English
harmonium
“A small reed organ, especially one operated by foot bellows.”