‖ mirliton Mus.
(ˈmɜːlɪtɒn)
Also erron. mirloton.
[F. mirliton reed pipe; of onomatopœic origin (Littré).]
A toy instrument resembling a kazoo.
| 1819 Moore Mem. (1853) III. 9 The crowd of dancers, mountebanks, mirloton players [etc.]. 1865 M. Eyre Lady's Walks S. of France xx. 217 In returning home the pilgrims unite in bands, singing;..while others, provided with mirlitons, play the wildest accompaniments. 1894 G. du Maurier Trilby I. ii. 155 Taffy and Jeannot and Little Billie made the necessary music on their mirlitons. 1895 in Funk's Stand. Dict. 1938 [see kazoo]. 1970 P. Oliver Savannah Syncopators 109 Kazoo, submarine-shaped tube mirliton, played in blues bands. |