ocarina
[ ok-uh-ree-nuh ]
/ ˌɒk əˈri nə /
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noun
a simple musical wind instrument shaped somewhat like an elongated egg with a mouthpiece and finger holes.
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Also called sweet potato.
Origin of ocarina
First recorded in 1875–80; from Italian, originally dialect (Emilia), diminutive of oca “goose” (from Late Latin auca, contraction of unattestedavica, derivative of Latin avis “bird”), so called from the instrument's shape; apparently the name given to it by Giuseppe Donati (1876–1925) of Budrio, near Bologna, who popularized a ceramic version c1860
OTHER WORDS FROM ocarina
oc·a·ri·nist, nounWords nearby ocarina
oca, Ocala, OCAM, O Canada, “O Captain, My Captain”, ocarina, O'Casey, occ., Occam, Occam's razor, occas.
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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British Dictionary definitions for ocarina
ocarina
/ (ˌɒkəˈriːnə) /
noun
an egg-shaped wind instrument with a protruding mouthpiece and six to eight finger holes, producing an almost pure toneAlso called (US informal): sweet potato
Word Origin for ocarina
C19: from Italian: little goose, from oca goose, ultimately from Latin avis bird
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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