steel band

American  

noun

Music.

1. a band, native to Trinidad and common in the West Indies, using steel drums cut to various heights and tuned to specific pitches.

---

steel band British  

noun

1. music a type of instrumental band, popular in the Caribbean Islands, consisting mainly of tuned percussion instruments made chiefly from the heads of oil drums, hammered or embossed to obtain different notes

---

Etymology

Origin of steel band

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

The party got started on Saturday night with a steel band competition and continues across Sunday and Monday.

From BBC • Aug. 25, 2024

In one scene, a steel band plays in the middle of All Saints Road.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 18, 2020

“Beau and Hunt and I, there was like a steel band that ran through our chests connecting us,” Mr. Biden said in the interview in January.

From New York Times • Oct. 30, 2020

Down to $154 with code BOO20, this is a solid deal for the Fossil Q Explorist in stainless steel with steel band.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2018

Next thing I know, Earl’s arms encircle me like a steel band.

From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen