melopiano

noun

melo·​piano

¦melō+

plural melopianos

: a 19th-century device intended for installation in a piano and containing metal springs that cause small hammers to bounce repeatedly against the piano strings to sustain or swell their sound while producing a tremolo effect

Word History

Etymology

melo- entry 1 + piano

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!