ocarina

American  

[ok-uh-ree-nuh] / ˌɒk əˈri nə /

noun

1. a simple musical wind instrument shaped somewhat like an elongated egg with a mouthpiece and finger holes.

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ocarina British  

/ ˌɒkəˈriːnə /

noun

1. Also called (US informal): sweet potato.  an egg-shaped wind instrument with a protruding mouthpiece and six to eight finger holes, producing an almost pure tone

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Other Word Forms

• ocarinist
  noun

Etymology

Origin of ocarina

First recorded in 1875–80; from Italian, originally dialect (Emilia), diminutive of oca “goose” (from Late Latin auca, contraction of unattested avica, derivative of Latin avis “bird”), so called from the instrument's shape; apparently the name given to it by Giuseppe Donati (1836–1925) of Budrio, near Bologna, who popularized a ceramic version c1860

Example Sentences

The guitar and ocarina join the orchestra — the Pacific Symphony, conducted by David LaMarche, replacing de la Parra, who couldn’t travel because of an ear infection.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2023

Merely seeing the words “Fairy Fountain” or “Lost Woods” instantly brings the relevant music to mind, decades later – and of course, the player contributes to the soundtrack themselves with Link’s ocarina.

From The Guardian • Dec. 11, 2018

The subject of the next workshop was the ocarina, a clam-shaped wind instrument perforated by a dozen holes and a mouthpiece.

From The New Yorker • Oct. 31, 2014

Despite its aura, the drum looks modest and meek surrounded by cabinets chockablock with bassoons and oboes, cornets and bugles, not to mention the odd oliphant, ocarina and shofar.

From New York Times • Aug. 5, 2010

"Dear Frederica, Dick will leave all religious things to you, I know—" warbled Lady Isabel, in her gentle, musical voice, that suggested something between the tones of a wood pigeon and an ocarina.

From Mount Music by Ross, Martin