glassichord

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   A 19th-century musical instrument made of glass plates that are struck by hammers or…

   A 19th-century musical instrument made of glass plates that are struck by hammers or sticks.

   • Amongst other phenomena, let it be remembered that the glassichord and the drum were skilfully played upon with both sticks.
   • The instruments usually comprised a guitar, an accordion, several bells, a glassichord struck with cork hammers, and a small drum with the requisite sticks.
2. 2

   Synonym of glass harmonica.

   • He revived and improved the harmonica, or glassichord, and extended his speculations to the finer arts; showing that he could taste and criticise even the compositions of a Handel!
   • Curiously, he omitted the only indigenous instrument, Franklin's glassichord.
   • His glassichord was a sensation in the intersecting spheres of art and science, capitalizing as it did upon a fad in London of playing concertos upon musical glasses.
3. 3

   Anything that produces a similarly pure continuous sound.

   • The moveless, still air acted as a glassichord on the waters, which rang under the shrill voice of the singer.
   • Bobolink. For notes from the "glassichord" of fifteen bobolinks see Chapter III., near end.

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