Melodica
/məˈlɒdɪkə/noun
A small free-reed keyboard instrument played by blowing through a mouthpiece.
Did you know?The melodica is a modern commercial instrument, popularized by Hohner in the 1950s, but its name reaches back to Ancient Greek words for song and musical performance.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
μέλος (melos)
“A song, tune, or musical phrase; also a part or limb.”
Ancient Greek
Greek
μελῳδία (melōidia)
“Singing or melody, literally the performance of a song.”
Late Antiquity
Latin
melodia
“Melody or musical song, borrowed from Greek.”
13th Century
Old French
melodie
“A melodic sequence or pleasing musical sound.”
14th Century
English
melody
“A succession of musical notes forming a recognizable tune.”
1950s
Modern English
melodica
“A coined instrument name, formed from melody or melodic and applied to a portable blown keyboard.”