The Jew's trump, or Jew's harp, as it is often called, though now a boy's instrument, is of ancient origin, for Mr. Pennant informs us, (Tour to Scotland, p. 195,) that one made of gilt brass was found in Norway, deposited in an urn. There appears to be an allusion, in the name, to the inhabitants of Judea; and it is to be observed, that in Dodsley's old plays, vol. iv. p. 171, Quick calls the usurer, on account of his Jewish avarice, "a notable Jew's trump." In the plate, however, of Jewish musical instruments, in Cal-met's Dictionary, nothing of this kind occurs; so that perhaps there is a corruption here of jeu-trompe, a plaything, or play-tromp, as it is now only used by boys for that purpose; or it may be a corruption of Jew's harp, from the circumstance of its being: placed between the teeth when played.