calliope

[kuh-lahy-uh-pee, kal-ee-ohp]

noun

1. Also called steam organ. a musical instrument consisting of a set of harsh-sounding steam whistles that are activated by a keyboard.

2. (initial capital letter),  Also Kalliope the Muse of heroic poetry.

Calliope

¹

/ kəˈlaɪəpɪ /

noun

1. Greek myth the Muse of epic poetry

calliope

²

/ kəˈlaɪəpɪ /

noun

1. a steam organ

Word History and Origins

Origin of calliope¹

1855–60, < Latin < Greek Kalliópē, equivalent to kalli- calli- + op- (stem of óps ) voice + -ē feminine ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of calliope¹

C19: after _Calliope (literally: beautiful-voiced)

Example Sentences

Then we went through our industrial phase: The calliope appeared atop a plume of pressurized steam in the early 1850s.

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Beltway Democrats will blame their likely 2022 drubbing on the rise of right-wing racist reactionaries and the Fox News/One America News propaganda calliope.

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Try a few, crank up the calliope and make your own show.

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Linthicum also contributes saloon piano and calliope organ, as well as weepy steel guitar on “Old Fashioned Man,” a country waltz about not dancing.

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But the fair website says drive-thru exhibits included old fire trucks, livestock and a calliope.

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