hurdy-gurdy

(hʉrdē gʉr)

noun pl. hurdy-gurdies

  1. an early instrument shaped like a lute or viol but played by turning a crank attached to a rosined wheel that causes the strings to vibrate
  2. popularly a barrel organ

Origin: prob. echoic

See hurdy-gurdy in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. hur·dy-gur·dies
  1. A medieval stringed instrument played by turning a rosined wheel with a crank and depressing keys connected to tangents on the strings.
  2. Any instrument, such as a barrel organ, played by turning a crank.

Origin:

Origin: Imitative

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