Melodeon
/məˈloʊdiən/noun
A small keyboard instrument operated by bellows and producing sound through free reeds.
Did you know?Melodeons helped bring organ-like music into homes, churches, dance halls, and traveling performances before modern electronic instruments existed.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλος (melos)
“Song, tune, or musical phrase; the ancient root behind the musical sense of melody.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μελῳδία (melōidia)
“Singing or melody, formed from melos, “song,” and aoidē, “song” or “chant.””
Medieval Latin
Latin
melodia
“Melody or musical air, borrowed from Greek.”
13th Century
Old French
melodie
“A sequence of musical notes or a tune.”
Late Middle English
English
melody
“A pleasing succession of musical tones.”
19th Century
English
melodeon
“A coined instrument name built from melody with an instrumental suffix, referring to a small reed organ.”