The problem, many times, occurs with dialect of different areas.

First an anecdote to give an example. Many moons ago while vacationing in Mississippi my youngest, who was about 3 or 4 at the time, was not allowed to go on a trail ride with us but could ride a pony in the coral by the name of "ONHEAD" Now think of that sound--onhead. Later while driving we heard about an "onworker's strike" in the area. I had thought---silly name for a horse. Well, it was IRON HEAD. The strike was an IRON WORKERS strike.

So, Jew's Harp. Theory has it that it could be a dialectic misunderstanding for JAWS HARP. Mike Seeger, I believe, makes mention of this also.

Bill Hahn