harmonica
noun
- musical instrument
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /ˌhɑɹˈmɒ.nɪ.kə/ / /ˌhɑɹˈmɑ.nɪ.kə/
noun
Etymology: From armonica. Coined by American polymath and statesman Benjamin Franklin to refer to his glass harmonica, an instrument that predated the small wind instrument by several decades. Doublet of harmonic; compare Latin harmonicus.
- A musical wind instrument with a series of holes for the player to blow into, each hole producing a different note.
- A musical instrument, consisting of a series of hemispherical glasses which, by touching the edges with the dampened finger, give forth the tones.
- A toy instrument of strips of glass or metal hung on two tapes, and struck with hammers.