bullroarern.
/ˈbʊlˌrɔːrə/, U.S. /ˈbʊlˌrɔrər/ A flat piece of wood tied to a string which is whirled round to produce a buzzing sound, used as a toy or by certain peoples, esp. Australian Aboriginal people, for ritual and ceremonial purposes.
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society > leisure > entertainment > toy or plaything > rattles or whirrers > [noun]
hurr1483
hurre-bone1483
rattle1519
rittle-rattle1567
clickets1611
bummer1821
bullroarer1848
thunderer1860
whizzer188.
tick-tack1884
whizzing-stick1890
whizzing-blade1905
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > other musical instruments > [noun] > others
coriunc1275
symphonyc1290
symphan1303
minstrelsyc1390
bougounc1400
clokarde?c1475
dulsacordisa1525
symphioun1578
sumphion?1590
clasher1621
orphion1658
polyphone1684
roundball1688
phonomime1834
orchestrion1838
sabbeka1844
bullroarer1848
creaker1855
melodikon1857
symphonia1864
organophone1880
magnetophone1883
Kaffir piano1897
jazzophone1926
mouth bow1932
wobbleboard1960
singing bowl1980
1848 Adelaide Misc. 2 Sept. 77/2 The assembled ‘bull-roarers’, as those rude and mysterious instruments are popularly called, were swung round more vehemently than ever.
1851 Illustr. London News 8 Nov. 579/2 For explaining the theory of sound, the whistle, the humming-top, the whiz-gig, the pop-gun, the bull-roarer, and sundry other amusements, well known in the playground, would amply suffice.
1958 C. Achebe Things fall Apart (2001) xxii. 136 For the first time in living memory the sacred bull-roarer was heard in broad daylight.
1996 N. Te Awekotuku in D. C. Starzecka Maori Art & Culture ii. 49 (caption) The bullroarer has painted kōwhaiwhai patterns on both sides.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2022).
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n.1848