| xylophone | 1. An instrument common among the Russians, Poles, and Tartars, consisting of a series of strips of wood or glass graduated in length to the musical scale, resting on belts of straw, and struck with two small hammers. Called in Germany strohfiedel, or straw fiddle. 2. An instrument to determine the vibrative properties of different kinds of wood. Origin: Xylo- + Gr. Fwnh sound. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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