calliope

[ kuh-lahy-uh-pee; kal-ee-ohp ]

noun

1. Also called steam organ. a musical instrument consisting of a set of harsh-sounding steam whistles that are activated by a keyboard.
2. (initial capital letter) Also Kalliope. Classical Mythology. the Muse of heroic poetry.

Calliope

¹

/ kəˈlaɪəpɪ /

noun

1. Greek myth the Muse of epic poetry

calliope

²

/ kəˈlaɪəpɪ /

noun

1. a steam organ

Word History and Origins

Origin of calliope¹

1855–60, Americanism; < Latin < Greek Kalliópē, equivalent to kalli- calli- + op- (stem of óps ) voice + -ē feminine ending

Word History and Origins

Origin of calliope¹

C19: after Calliope (literally: beautiful-voiced)

Example Sentences

Of course, Trump cranked up his calliope proclaiming to the audience he had drawn “a much bigger crowd than Bruce Springsteen. Right?”

From Salon

Then we went through our industrial phase: The calliope appeared atop a plume of pressurized steam in the early 1850s.

From Washington Post

Beltway Democrats will blame their likely 2022 drubbing on the rise of right-wing racist reactionaries and the Fox News/One America News propaganda calliope.

From Salon

Try a few, crank up the calliope and make your own show.

From New York Times

Linthicum also contributes saloon piano and calliope organ, as well as weepy steel guitar on “Old Fashioned Man,” a country waltz about not dancing.

From Washington Times