barrel piano

noun

: a mechanical piano that is operated by turning a hand crank which rotates a barrel-and-pin mechanism causing hammers to hit the piano strings

A British patent was issued for a crude barrel piano, activated by pins on a large cylinder, in 1829.

—Edward Tenner, Our Own Devices, 2009

called also hurdy-gurdy, piano-organ, street piano

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

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