reed organ

American  

noun

1. a musical keyboard instrument, as the harmonium or American organ, having small metal reeds through which air is forced to produce the sound.

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reed organ British  

noun

1. a wind instrument, such as the harmonium, accordion, or harmonica, in which the sound is produced by reeds, each reed producing one note only

2. a type of pipe organ, such as the regal, in which all the pipes are fitted with reeds

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Etymology

Origin of reed organ

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

On Venus, sounds that are caused by solid objects vibrating, like harmonicas or reed organ pipes, would be pitched down because the atmosphere is dense and soupy.

From Salon • Jun. 3, 2025

“A reed organ is a small foot pedal organ that was a regulation instrument in pre-war Japanese elementary schools,” she explains.

From The Guardian • Mar. 24, 2017

From the baroque tumult that is opener Dear Lincoln to the closing track, A Purpose, performed on an 1898 American reed organ, there is no let-up.

From The Guardian • May 28, 2013

Again Mr. Kahane fused art-song and pop-ballad conventions into something new and entrancing, including rich, potent string-quartet writing embellished with piano, Ms. Worden’s reed organ, and an electric guitar Mr. Kahane and Ms. Worden shared.

From New York Times • Oct. 28, 2012

He had already learned to play the "seraphine," the instrument which has been developed into the reed organ.

From Charles Carleton Coffin War Correspondent, Traveller, Author, and Statesman by Griffis, William Elliot