Glockenspiel
/ˈɡlɒk.ənˌʃpiːl/noun
A percussion instrument made of tuned metal bars struck with mallets.
Did you know?Glockenspiel is a German compound of Glocke (“bell”) + Spiel (“play”), and the same German root behind Spiel shows up in English words like spell through the older idea of speech, telling, and performance as power.
Etymological Timeline
Old High German
OHG
glocka
“bell”
Old High German
OHG
spil
“play, performance, game”
Middle High German
MHG
glockenspil
“a set or performance of bells”
18th Century
German
Glockenspiel
“a keyboard-like instrument of tuned bells or metal bars”
Modern English
English
glockenspiel
“a percussion instrument of tuned metal bars struck with mallets”