calliope

noun

cal·li·ope kə-ˈlī-ə-(ˌ)pē

in sense 2 also

ˈka-lē-ˌōp

capitalized : the Greek Muse of heroic poetry

: a keyboard musical instrument resembling an organ and consisting of a series of whistles sounded by steam or compressed air

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With a name literally meaning "beautiful-voiced" (from kallos, meaning "beauty," and ops, meaning "voice"), Calliope was the most prominent of the Muses—the nine sister goddesses who in Greek mythology presided over poetry, song, and the arts and sciences. She is represented in art as holding an epic poem in one hand and a trumpet in the other. The musical instrument invented and patented in the 1850s, played by forcing steam or compressed air through a series of whistles, was named after the goddess. Because its sound could be heard for miles around, the calliope was effective in luring patrons to river showboats, circuses, and carnivals, which is why the instrument continues its association with such attractions today.

Examples of calliope in a Sentence

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Lilting calliope music as the 1912 carousel at Trimper Rides spins, with its menagerie of horses, ostriches and a giant stork. —

Tim Ebner, Washington Post, 10 July 2024 Calliope Hummingbird – One of the smallest hummingbirds in the U.S. the calliope has magenta smears on its throat with pale green on the sides. —

Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 12 Apr. 2024 Or maybe stroll along the bustling Public Landing, listening to the cadence of the dockworkers and the calliope whistles of the steamboats. —

Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 7 Jan. 2024 Other species that are less common but have been seen in the state are calliope, Allen’s and Anna’s hummingbirds. —

Victoria Moorwood, The Enquirer, 10 Apr. 2023 See all Example Sentences for calliope