accordion

Where does the word "accordion" come from? It comes from Latin accordare, passing through German before entering English (1830s).

Accordion’s story begins in Latin: accordare meant “to bring into agreement.” To bring into agreement, from ad- (to) and cor (heart). By 1700s, the word had taken hold in German as Akkord. German musicians took the term from French 'accord', harmony. By 1829, German speakers had reshaped it into Akkordion. Coined by Cyrill Demian for the newly invented bellows instrument built around chords. It reached English by 1830s as accordion. Cyrill Demian patented the 'Accordion' in Vienna in 1829, named for its ability to play whole chords. Today, accordion means a portable musical instrument played by pressing keys or buttons while working a bellows.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient accordare "to bring into agreement", to bring into agreement, from ad- (to) and cor (heart).
2. Stage 2 · German · 1700s Akkord "a musical chord", German musicians took the term from French 'accord', harmony.
3. Stage 3 · German · 1829 Akkordion "the bellows-driven chord instrument", coined by Cyrill Demian for the newly invented bellows instrument built around chords.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1830s accordion "a bellows-driven keyboard instrument", Cyrill Demian patented the 'Accordion' in Vienna in 1829, named for its ability to play whole chords.