musical glasses

American  

plural noun

1. a set of drinking glasses filled with varying amounts of water to produce ringing tones of different pitches when the player's finger is rubbed around the wet rims.

---

musical glasses British  

plural noun

1. another term for glass harmonica

---

Etymology

Origin of musical glasses

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Tribute to Foster''* which called for the use of musical glasses and bowls.

From Time Magazine Archive

Hopeful sufferers sat around the tubs clutching at protruding iron rods while harmoniums, pianos and musical glasses tinkled and Mesmer and assistants in purple silk coats hovered about.

From Time Magazine Archive

The conversation wandered from Shakespeare to the musical glasses; until at last something was said of the subject of the day.

From A Second Coming by Marsh, Richard

Gretchen's eye fell upon the musical glasses, which were among the few things that she had brought from the East and which had belonged to her old German home.

From The Log School-House on the Columbia by Butterworth, Hezekiah

No tones can equal in sweetness the musical glasses, and the trembling nerves of Gretchen's fingers gave a spirit of pathetic pleading to the old German forest hymn.

From The Log School-House on the Columbia by Butterworth, Hezekiah