Does anyone know the origin of the term "wolf tone?" Is it simply because they howl? Who first used it?

my knowledge of wolf tones comes from learning about the well tempered intonation that was developed in the 1600s. just intonation of keyboards caused some keys to be badly out of tune, and the resulting tones were called wolf tones, for the reason you state. at least that's how I remember it, but it was in college, and I tended to forget things then...

well a quick google tells me that I have forgotten a lot more than I know, and didn't even hear right to begin with... anyway, here's a great link (which perhaps you've already found....):
Wolf Tones
sounds like a particular area of resonance in an instrument (strings especially) that causes the note to sound differently than other notes.

I've had fun trying to find the resonant notes in stairwells and other closed, resonant spaces. this is a similar phenomenon, I guess.

here's a bit more:

Quote:

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As a Violinist, Wolf is a standard term to describe either a bad sound
from ONE note or a double stop (a two note chord).
Specifically, in the one note version, it will generally be activated (providing the anomaly exists) in the range of C above open G to about G above open G. Its effect is caused by a flaw in the mechanical structure of the violin which produces a large resonance brought about by the weakness in the related structural parts which cause a howling or barking sound. In the case of wolf tones in double stops, the effect is a production of a third tone (which shouldn't be there) in this case, it is usually less howling and rather more soft. Maybe wolf was a good description because on the Violin it really does wolf or howl.

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from here: music dsp

it's worth following that thread a bit. interesting stuff.