Barrel organ

Barrel organ
Barrel Bar"rel (b[a^]r"r[e^]l), n.[OE. barel, F. baril, prob. fr. barre bar. Cf. {Barricade}.] 1. A round vessel or cask, of greater length than breadth, and bulging in the middle, made of staves bound with hoops, and having flat ends or heads; as, a cracker barrel. Sometimes applied to a similar cylindrical container made of metal, usually called a {drum}. [1913 Webster +PJC]

2. The quantity which constitutes a full barrel. This varies for different articles and also in different places for the same article, being regulated by custom or by law. A barrel of wine is 311/2 gallons; a barrel of flour is 196 pounds. [1913 Webster]

3. A solid drum, or a hollow cylinder or case; as, the barrel of a windlass; the barrel of a watch, within which the spring is coiled. [1913 Webster]

4. A metallic tube, as of a gun, from which a projectile is discharged. --Knight. [1913 Webster]

5. A jar. [Obs.] --1 Kings xvii. 12. [1913 Webster]

6. (Zo["o]l.) The hollow basal part of a feather. [1913 Webster]

{Barrel bulk} (Com.), a measure equal to five cubic feet, used in estimating capacity, as of a vessel for freight.

{Barrel drain} (Arch.), a drain in the form of a cylindrical tube.

{Barrel of a boiler}, the cylindrical part of a boiler, containing the flues.

{Barrel of the ear} (Anat.), the tympanum, or tympanic cavity.

{Barrel organ}, an instrument for producing music by the action of a revolving cylinder.

{Barrel vault}. See under {Vault}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Barrel organ — Organ Or gan, n. [L. organum, Gr. ?; akin to ? work, and E. work: cf. F. organe. See {Work}, and cf. {Orgue}, {Orgy}.] [1913 Webster] 1. An instrument or medium by which some important action is performed, or an important end accomplished; as,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • barrel organ — barrel organs N COUNT A barrel organ is a large machine that plays music when you turn the handle on the side. Barrel organs used to be played in the street to entertain people …   English dictionary

  • barrel organ — ► NOUN ▪ a small pipe organ that plays a preset tune when a handle is turned …   English terms dictionary

  • barrel organ — n. a mechanical musical instrument having a cylinder studded with pins which open pipe valves or strike metal tongues when the cylinder is revolved, producing a tune; hand organ …   English World dictionary

  • Barrel Organ —   [englisch, bærl ɔːgən], Drehorgel …   Universal-Lexikon

  • barrel organ — barrel .organ n a musical instrument that you play by turning a handle, often used on the streets in order to get money, especially in the past …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • barrel organ — noun count a large instrument that plays music when the handle is turned, used in the past to entertain people in the street …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Barrel organ — A barrel organ player in Vienna, Austria. A bar …   Wikipedia

  • barrel organ — noun a musical instrument that makes music by rotation of a cylinder studded with pegs • Syn: ↑grind organ, ↑hand organ, ↑hurdy gurdy, ↑hurdy gurdy, ↑street organ • Topics: ↑music • Hyperny …   Useful english dictionary

  • barrel organ — UK / US noun [countable] Word forms barrel organ : singular barrel organ plural barrel organs a large instrument that plays music when the handle is turned, used in the past to entertain people in the street …   English dictionary

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