glass harmonica


noun

a musical instrument composed of a set of graduated, revolving glass bowls, the rims of which are moistened and set in vibration by friction from the fingertips.

Origin of glass harmonica

First recorded in 1905–10

Example sentences from the Web for glass harmonica

British Dictionary definitions for glass harmonica

glass harmonica

noun

a musical instrument of the 18th century consisting of a set of glass bowls of graduated pitches, played by rubbing the fingers over the moistened rims or by a keyboard mechanism Sometimes shortened to: harmonica Also called: musical glasses