barrel organ

American  

noun

1. a musical instrument in which air from a bellows is admitted to a set of pipes by means of pins inserted into a revolving barrel; hand organ.

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barrel organ British  

noun

1. an instrument consisting of a cylinder turned by a handle and having pins on it that interrupt the air flow to certain pipes, thereby playing any of a number of tunes See also hurdy-gurdy

2. a similar instrument in which the projections on a rotating barrel pluck a set of strings

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Etymology

Origin of barrel organ

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

"The old barrel organ started the song about Russian doping again," it added.

From Fox News • Jul. 30, 2021

The highlight package includes a “Phantom” prop: A music box in the shape of a barrel organ with the figure of a monkey playing the cymbals attached.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 19, 2021

Here’s a rollicking barrel organ performance of “Bad” that will make you forget all about Leaving Neverland.

From Slate • May 3, 2020

The basic setup is this: A seemingly innocent family goes to the fair and stops by an old-fashioned barrel organ ornamented with a herky-jerky dancing automaton.

From New York Times • Sep. 4, 2018

The families of the oligarchy forgot all about the barrel organ, and Marcos became the star attraction of the season.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende