hand organ

a portable barrel organ played by means of a crank turned by hand.

Origin of hand organ

An Americanism dating back to 1790–1800

Luigi returned to Carina and his place by the fire, and Carlotta got out the hand-organ.

The Italian Twins |Lucy Fitch Perkins
And all he needs is a hand-organ and a monkey to be an Italian.

Kent Knowles: Quahaug |Joseph C. Lincoln
No one pays any heed to the hand-organ man and his wife as they climb to their attic.

Children of the Tenements |Jacob A. Riis
This list would comprise the names of persons who are musical and who would rather pay a quarter than listen to a hand-organ.

The Inventions of the Idiot |John Kendrick Bangs

It is not fine music, that of the hand-organ and the street bands; it is indeed too oft a cracked and spavined pleasure.

From the Easy Chair, vol. 1 |George William Curtis

hand organ

another name for barrel organ