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

He had heard it often enough before, of course, and had paid no more attention to it than if it had been a hand organ on the corner.

From God's Green Country A Novel of Canadian Rural Life by Chapman, Ethel M.

Well, I just wish you could have heard Jacko play that hand organ.

From Jacko and Jumpo Kinkytail The Funny Monkey Boys by Garis, Howard R.

The damp straw, the old stove, the two men and the hand organ were dragged from the smoking wagon.

From Watch Yourself Go By by Warden, Ben W.

On an opposite corner a hand organ played an Italian song.

From Madge Morton's Victory by Chalmers, Amy D. V.