Hurdy-gurdy

Quick meaning: Hurdy-gurdy is a noun meaning (music) Synonym of street organ, often considered a misnomer.

Meaning

(music) Synonym of street organ, often considered a misnomer.

More Meanings

1. (US, California) A water wheel with radial buckets, driven by the impact of a jet.
2. (fishing, sailing) A winch, a windlass.
3. (humorous) Sounding like the Swedish language.
4. (music) A stringed instrument that produces a droning sound by turning a handle that connects to a wheel that rubs against a rosined string, with a keyboard also used to alter the pitch of the string.

Example Sentences

“You mean when she read that God-awful poem in her hurdy-gurdy Swedish chef accent?

He flung open the door, and found there only a ragged boy with a hurdy-gurdy on his back.

Swedes are often said to sing while they speak. (Listen to Floyd, the Muppet’s Swedish chef, singing “Hurdy Gurdy” and you’ll understand this.)

Just don’t do what the Swedish chef from The Muppet Show does and start playing tennis with the meatballs, or start waving your cooking utensils about the kitchen and shouting ‘hurdy gurdy’ at your mates.

Word Forms

• hurdy-gurdies

Synonyms for hurdy-gurdy

Depending on context, synonyms include organistrum.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include vielle, harmonichord, dulcitone, corrugaphone, virginal, chordophone.

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