steam organ

noun

1. calliope ( def 1 ).

steam organ

noun

1. a type of organ powered by steam, once common at fairgrounds, in which the pipes are sounded either by a keyboard or in a sequence determined by a moving punched card US namecalliope

Word History and Origins

Origin of steam organ¹

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

There was a steam organ on a decorated truck followed by a band and the mounted circus performers which drew a great crowd.

From Project Gutenberg

And the artist who sat inside the steam-organ wagon became so sleepy that his hand slipped and struck one of the organ pedals.

From Project Gutenberg

They could hear above the thud-thud of the gorged floodgates, shrieks in two keys as monotonous as a steam-organ.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a very beautiful meal, and the far-off music of the steam-organ added the last touch of festivity to the scene.

From Project Gutenberg