barrel organ

noun

a musical instrument in which air from a bellows is admitted to a set of pipes by means of pins inserted into a revolving barrel; hand organ.

barrel organ

See hurdy-gurdy
an instrument consisting of a cylinder turned by a handle and having pins on it that interrupt the air flow to certain pipes, thereby playing any of a number of tunes See also hurdy-gurdy
a similar instrument in which the projections on a rotating barrel pluck a set of strings

First recorded in 1765–75

At that dread moment, a ministrel from the sunny south, with barrel-organ, leapt on Dover beach!

Yes, and if you don't instantly pay the hire, I'll strike up a symphonia on this little barrel organ here.

We had Mr. Feeder, clipped to the stubble, grinding out his classic stops like a barrel-organ of erudition.

His business was to wale dismal, and bow his head down, the band (a barrel organ and a wiolin) playin slow and melancholly moosic.

The other end of the line was a small square box, which was furnished with four handles, similar to that of a barrel organ.

April 23, 2024inveterate

[in-vet-er-it ]

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