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Origin and history of instrument

instrument(n.)

late 13c., "musical instrument, mechanical apparatus for producing musical sounds," from Old French instrument, enstrument "means, device; musical instrument" (14c., earlier estrument, 13c.) and directly from Latin instrumentum "a tool, an implement; means, furtherance; apparatus, furniture; ornament, dress, embellishment; a commission, authorization; a document," from instruere "arrange, prepare, set in order; inform, teach," literally "to build, erect," from in- "on" (from PIE root *en "in") + struere "to pile, build" (from PIE *streu-, extended form of root *stere- "to spread").

The word in other Germanic languages also is from French. In English the meaning "a means, an agency" is from mid-14c. The sense of "hand-tool, implement, utensil, something used to produce a mechanical effect" is from early 14c. "Now usually distinguished from a tool, as being used for more delicate work or for artistic or scientific purposes" [OED]. The legal meaning "written document by which formal expression is given to a legal act" is from early 15c. Formerly also used of body parts or organs with special functions.

In wyfhode I wol vse myn Instrument As frely as my makere hath it sent. [Chaucer, "Wife of Bath's Prologue"]

also from late 13c.

Entries linking to instrument

implement(n.)

mid-15c., "supplementary payment, amount needed to complete repayment," from Late Latin implementem "a filling up" (as with provisions), from Latin implere "to fill, fill up, make full; fatten; fulfill, satisfy," from assimilated form of in- "into, in, on, upon" (from PIE root *en "in") + plere "to fill" (from PIE root *pele- (1) "to fill").

The sense of "workman's tool, utensil of a trade, things necessary to do work" is by 1530s. The underlying connection of the senses is "whatever may supply a want, that which fills up a need." Related: Implemental; implements.

An implement is whatever may supply a want or a requisite to an end ; it is always regarded in reference to its particular use ; as, agricultural implements ; implements of war. An instrument is anything which is employed in doing work or producing a certain result ; as, surgical, mathematical, musical instruments. [Century Dictionary]
instrumental(adj.)

late 14c., "of the nature of an instrument, serving as a means to an end," from Old French instrumental, from Medieval Latin *instrumentalis, from Latin instrumentum "a tool, apparatus" (see instrument (n.)). Meaning "serviceable, useful" is from c. 1600. Of music, c. 1500; noun meaning "musical composition for instruments only" is attested by 1940. Related: Instrumentally; instrumentality.

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tool
Old English tol "instrument, implement used by a craftsman or laborer, weapon," from Proto-Germanic *tōwalan "implement" (source also of Old Norse tol), from a verb stem represented by Old English tawian "prepare" (see taw). The ending is the instrumental suffix -el (1). The figu
pawn
"something given or deposited as security," as for money borrowed, late 15c. (mid-12c. as Anglo-Latin pandum), from Old French pan, pant "pledge, security," also "booty, plunder," perhaps from Frankish or some other Germanic source (compare Old High German pfant, German Pfand, Mi
psaltery
type of ancient stringed instrument, the accompanying instrument for psalms, c. 1300, sautrie, from Old French psalterie...(12c.) and directly from Latin psalterium "stringed instrument," from Greek psaltērion "stringed instrument," from psallein..."play on a stringed instrument, pull, pluck" (see psalm)....
brush
"instrument consisting of flexible material (bristles, hair, etc.) attached to a handle or stock," late 14c., "dust-sweeper...As an instrument for applying paint, late 15c.; as an instrument for playing drums, 1927....
organ
fusion of late Old English organe, and Old French orgene (12c.), both meaning "musical instrument," both from Latin organa..., plural of organum "a musical instrument," from Greek organon "implement, tool for making or doing; musical instrument;...From early 15c. as "a tool, an instrument."... By 1788 as "a medium, an instrument of communication."...
saxophone
type of modern metal musical instrument played through a reeded mouthpiece (originally meant as a more sonorous substitute...the clarinet in military bands), 1851, from French saxophone, named for Antoine Joseph "Adolphe" Sax (1814-1894), Belgian instrument...maker who devised it c. 1840, + musical-instrument ending ultimately from Greek phōnē "voiced, sounding" (see -phone)....
banjo
"guitar-like musical instrument with a circular body covered in front with stretched parchment, like a tambourine," 1764,...Jefferson has banjar), American English, usually described as of African origin, probably akin to Bantu mbanza, name of an instrument...The word has been influenced by colloquial pronunciation of bandore (1560s in English), a 16c. lute-like stringed instrument...
opinion
early 14c., opinioun, "a judgment formed or a conclusion reached, especially one based on evidence that does not produce knowledge or certainty," from Old French opinion "opinion, view, judgements founded upon probabilities" (12c.), from Latin opinionem (nominative opinio) "opini
address
early 14c., "to guide, aim, or direct," from Old French adrecier "go straight toward; straighten, set right; point, direct" (13c.), from Vulgar Latin *addirectiare "make straight" (source also of Spanish aderezar, Italian addirizzare), from ad "to" (see ad-) + *directiare "make s
wind
"air in motion," Old English wind "wind," from Proto-Germanic *winda- (source also of Old Saxon, Old Frisian, Middle Dutch, Dutch wind, Old Norse vindr, Old High German wind, German Wind, Gothic winds), from PIE *wē-nt-o‑ "blowing," suffixed (participial) form of root *we- "to bl

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