hand organ

American  

noun

1. a portable barrel organ played by means of a crank turned by hand.

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hand organ British  

noun

1. another name for barrel organ

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Etymology

Origin of hand organ

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Example Sentences

Another time he appeared in Chester town square, bishop's gaiters & all, grinding a hand organ to help raise money for the Royal Infirmary.

From Time Magazine Archive

It carromed into corner number two, smashing one perfectly good hand organ, freeing an excited monkey, and drawing forth a volley of lurid words from the Italian.

From Owen Clancy's Happy Trail or, The Motor Wizard in California by Standish, Burt L.

There was a hand organ and monkey going by and she was in a hurry to get to the street to see it.

From Village Life in America 1852-1872 Including the period of the American Civil War as told in the diary of a school-girl by Richards, Caroline Cowles

Do you remember how you used to shake my teeth out for following the hand organ men around town?

From Living Up to Billy by Cooper, Elizabeth

We had a piano and a small hand organ, which could be carried on deck.

From Yr Ynys Unyg The Lonely Island by Winton, Julia de