player piano

American  

noun

1. a piano that can play automatically when the keys are actuated electronically or by a pneumatic device controlled by a piano roll.

---

player piano British  

noun

1. a mechanical piano; Pianola

---

Etymology

Origin of player piano

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05

Example Sentences

His parents had a player piano in the living room, and at a young age Rinaudo learned how to service it when it needed repairs.

From Los Angeles Times

Any piece for so many pianos is bound to call to mind Conlon Nancarrow, an American composer who wrote vastly complex music for the player piano.

From The Wall Street Journal

He had Steinway program a player piano to perform “Mad Rush” with Glass pounding playing style, and he had his roaming camera observe the big cat’s response to the music.

From Los Angeles Times

There were newfangled inventions: player pianos, phonographs and nickelodeons.

From New York Times

Glass does appear briefly, in the form of a Steinway Spirio piano — an instrument that can record sound and touch then reproduce it, like an advanced player piano.

From New York Times