melodeon

or me·lo·di·on

[ muh-loh-dee-uhn ]
See synonyms for: melodeonmelodeons on Thesaurus.com

noun
  1. a small reed organ.

  2. a kind of accordion.

Origin of melodeon

1
1840–50, Americanism;<German, formed on Melodie melody; see accordion

Words Nearby melodeon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use melodeon in a sentence

  • Then you could do your paintin',' she says, 'an' get you a new melodeon for the Sunday School, or whatever 'tis you want.

    Country Neighbors | Alice Brown
  • Dancing was tabooed, but a "melodeon" was carted to the dock and hymns were sung.

    The Kirk on Rutgers Farm | Frederick Brckbauer
  • At the close of one convivial session Artemus went to a concert-hall, the "melodeon," blacked his face, and delivered a speech.

  • The melodeon, tormented by Mrs. Lurania Bassett, shrieked and groaned, and the hymn was sung.

    Cap'n Eri | Joseph Crosby Lincoln
  • The pipes, the melodeon, the fiddle, they know that—and a few ould ones have heard the harp.

    The Wind Bloweth | Brian Oswald Donn-Byrne

British Dictionary definitions for melodeon

melodeon

melodion

/ (mɪˈləʊdɪən) /


nounmusic
  1. a type of small accordion

  2. a type of keyboard instrument similar to the harmonium

Origin of melodeon

1
C19: from German, from Melodie melody

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012