"Hurdy-gurdy" Definition

Definitions for the word "Hurdy-gurdy" from multiple English dictionaries.

1. n.
A stringled instrument, lutelike in shape, in which the sound is produced by the friction of a wheel turned by a crank at the end, instead of by a bow, two of the strings being tuned as drones, while two or more, tuned in unison, are modulated by keys.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. n.
In California, a water wheel with radial buckets, driven by the impact of a jet.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. n.
(pl. -ies) 1 droning musical instrument played by turning a handle. 2 colloq. Barrel-organ. [imitative]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
4. slang
a droning musical instrument shaped like a large fiddle, and turned by a crank, used by Savoyards and other itinerant foreign musicians in England, now nearly superseded by the hand-organ. From the peculiar noise made by the instrument, which in Italy is called “viola.”
Source: The Slang Dictionary, 1864

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This page provides a list of definitions and meanings for "Hurdy-gurdy" from various historical English dictionaries. By displaying multiple definitions, you can compare and contrast different meanings and nuances of a word, phrase, or slang. You can also see the changes in meaning of "Hurdy-gurdy" over time by viewing the definitions from different dictionaries published at different times in history. The page also includes other information to help users expand their vocabulary and understand the context of the word.

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