Jump To:

• organ grinder
  organ grinder

  noun

  an itinerant street musician who earns a living by playing a hand organ or hurdy-gurdy.
• organ-grinder
  organ-grinder

  noun

  a street musician playing a hand organ for money

organ grinder

American  

noun

1. an itinerant street musician who earns a living by playing a hand organ or hurdy-gurdy.

---

organ-grinder British  

noun

1. a street musician playing a hand organ for money

---

Etymology

Origin of organ grinder

First recorded in 1800–10

Example Sentences

He rates a podcaster below “movies, TV, recording artist, radio personality, mime and organ grinder monkey.”

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2024

He cranks the handle like an organ grinder and more nuggets of phosphate issue forth.

From Washington Post • Jul. 3, 2022

Bach was in many ways a glorified organ grinder, cranking out music to support his 20 children.

From Slate • Oct. 25, 2018

There are memories, too -- the triptych “Beginnings” is a personal compendium of defining childhood influences -- an organ grinder, an upside-down Puss in Boots, a globe showing America and an art-loving uncle.

From BusinessWeek • Dec. 9, 2011

“We’ll say we saw an organ grinder with a monkey,” suggested Boris.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood