multi-instrumentalistn.
/ˌmʌltɪˌɪnstrᵿˈmɛntl̩ɪst/, U.S. /ˈˌməltiˌɪnztrəˈmɛn(t)ələst/; see also multi- comb. form. A musician who can play several different instruments.
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multi-instrumentalist1896
1896 Northern Whig 25 Feb. 8/2 Miss Flo Hastings, the well-known serio-comic artist, was heartily applauded for her songs, as was Miss Lillie Western, the multi instrumentalist.., for her clever musical act.
1935 Hot News June 18/3 Were he not a multi-instrumentalist I am inclined to think that Benny Carter would be one of the very best clarinettists [sic].
1969 Listener 3 Apr. 470/3 At the Ronnie Scott Club..we have just had the multi-instrumentalist and improvising genius, Roland Kirk.
1989 C. S. Murray Crosstown Traffic vii. 174 He was a gifted multi-instrumentalist who could handle himself on guitar, drums, keyboards, bass and harmonica with equal facility.
1997 Chicago Tribune 14 Dec. vii. 15/1 Multi-instrumentalist Roscoe Mitchell collaborated with trumpeter Lester Bowie, saxophonist Joseph Jarman and bassist Malachi Favors.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1896