reed organ

noun

1. a musical keyboard instrument, as the harmonium or American organ, having small metal reeds through which air is forced to produce the sound.

reed organ

noun

1. a wind instrument, such as the harmonium, accordion, or harmonica, in which the sound is produced by reeds, each reed producing one note only
2. a type of pipe organ, such as the regal, in which all the pipes are fitted with reeds

Word History and Origins

Origin of reed organ¹

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

In the French Mustel reed organ the first touch is operated by depressing the keys about a sixteenth part of an inch.

From Project Gutenberg

Ingenuity has been shown also in the invention of "talking-machines," like Faber's, based on the reed organ pipe.

From Project Gutenberg

He had already learned to play the "seraphine," the instrument which has been developed into the reed organ.

From Project Gutenberg

There are two familiar types of organ in use at the present time, the reed organ, the pipe-organ.

From Project Gutenberg

From the far corner where the darkness reigned came the strange, church-like notes of a reed organ.

From Project Gutenberg