glass harmonica

American  

noun

1. a musical instrument composed of a set of graduated, revolving glass bowls, the rims of which are moistened and set in vibration by friction from the fingertips.

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glass harmonica British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: harmonica.  Also called: musical glasses.  a musical instrument of the 18th century consisting of a set of glass bowls of graduated pitches, played by rubbing the fingers over the moistened rims or by a keyboard mechanism

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Etymology

Origin of glass harmonica

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

Mariko Anraku’s harp and Friedrich Heinrich Kern’s turn on the glass harmonica were especially beautiful, the warble of the latter capturing the wobble of Lucia’s wits.

From Washington Post • Apr. 24, 2022

I believe Pretty is accompanied by a glass harp, which consists of bowls filled w/ water and which is the precursor to the glass harmonica.

From New York Times • Apr. 25, 2018

Wildly outgoing and obviously persistent, Garcia first came across the glass armonica, also known as the glass harmonica or glass piano, more than two decades ago in Harvard Square.

From Washington Times • Mar. 16, 2016

After 50 he charted and named the Gulf Stream and invented the glass harmonica.

From Forbes • Aug. 7, 2014

The little lady laughed, and how charmingly she could laugh; it sounded like the bells of a glass harmonica striking against each other.

From The Day of Wrath by Bain, R. Nisbet (Robert Nisbet)