aeolian harp

American  

noun

1. a box with an opening across which are stretched a number of strings of equal length that are tuned in unison and sounded by the wind.

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aeolian harp British  

noun

1. Also called: wind harp.  a stringed instrument that produces a musical sound when a current of air or wind passes over the strings

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Etymology

Origin of aeolian harp

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

aeolian harp

The wires Davie speaks of may be the strings of an aeolian harp!

From Donal Grant, by George MacDonald by MacDonald, George

The very wind of heaven was made to fan over an aeolian harp that it might enter his room, not as a strong fresh breeze, but as a breath of music.

From In Story-land by Harrison, Elizabeth

On the other hand, those who had been captured by his poetry expected to find a man whose sensitive organism responded nervously to every uttered word as an aeolian harp answers to the faintest breeze.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various

He heard, somewhere, the continual throbbing of a great drum, with desultory bursts of far music, inconceivably sweet, like the tones of an aeolian harp.

From The Lock and Key Library The most interesting stories of all nations: American by Hawthorne, Julian

Mary, who was as sensitive to changes in manner as an aeolian harp is to the slightest breeze, looked at her hostess quickly and noticed the red rims on her eyelids.

From The Motor Maids' School Days by Stokes, Katherine