Word of the Day – Psallmelodicon

Psallmelodicon (noun) (rare)

sal-mel-od-ik-on

A woodwind instrument capable of playing several tones at once, designed to imitate the sounds of orchestral instruments.

Late 19th century; earliest use found in John Stainer (1840–1901), musicologist and composer. From German †Psallmelodicon from ancient Greek ψάλλειν to twang, play + Hellenistic Greek μελῳδικόν.

Example sentences

“The sound of the psallmelodicon.”