musical instrumentn.
/ˌmjuːzᵻkl ˈɪnstrᵿm(ə)nt/, U.S. /ˈˌmjuzəkəl ˈɪnstrəmənt/ An object or device for producing musical sounds; = instrument n. 1a.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > [noun]
organeOE
orgleeOE
gleea1225
instrumentc1300
organum1342
organyc1400
musicala1450
musical instrument?c1450
organ1772
dulcimer1890
axe1955
?c1450 (?a1400) J. Wyclif Eng. Wks. (1880) 365 (MED) Kynge dauyd..ordend syngers and players in dyuers musical instrumentis to serue byfore god in þe temple.
?a1475 (?a1425) tr. R. Higden Polychron. (Harl. 2261) (1869) II. 377 (MED) Mercurius founde..siringas, whiche be musicalle instrumentes made of pipes other reedes.
1526 Pylgrimage of Perfection (de Worde) f. 7v Whiche..passeth all ye armony of this worlde, bothe musycall instrumentes & voyce of man.
1576 A. Fleming tr. Erasmus in Panoplie Epist. 340 The sweet and comfortable sounde of musicall instrumentes.
1615 G. Sandys Relation of Journey 173 The Armenians..in stead of musicall instruments, have Sawcers of brasse..set about with gingles.
1670 R. Baxter Cure Church-div. 75 As a musical instrument in tune or a set of musick, delight the hearer by the pleasing harmony.
1726 J. Swift Gulliver II. iii. ii. 22 He gave me the Names and Descriptions of all the Musical Instruments.
1776 J. Hawkins Gen. Hist. Music I. ii. ix. 243 The general division of musical instruments is into three classes, the pulsatile, tensile, and inflatile.
1823 Pigot's London Directory i. 181/2 Musical Instrument Makers.
1880 Athenæum 20 Nov. 678/3 Musical instruments..are yet readily reducible under three distinct types: 1. The drum type; 2. The pipe type; 3. The lyre type.
1933 E. K. Chambers Eng. Folk-play 70 The musical instrument is generally a fiddle.
1992 K. Ohmae Borderless World (new ed.) iii. 52 Yamaha..is now the world leader in nearly all categories of acoustic and ‘techno’ musical instruments.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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