speaking-tube
(Also unhyphened.)
[speaking vbl. n. 5 b.]
1. A tube or pipe for speaking, or communicating orders, from one room, building, etc., to another.
| 1833 Loudon Encycl. Archit. §1457 Orders being given by the waiter above through a speaking-tube. 1844 T. Webster Encycl. Dom. Econ. §4797 These speaking tubes first came into use here..about thirty-five years ago. 1894 E. Banks Camp. Curiosity 27 Annie was called to the hall to answer the whistle of the speaking-tube. |
| attrib. 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Suppl. 834/1 Speaking Tube Whistle, a modification of an intonating modulating steam whistle. |
2. A speaking-trumpet.
| 1889 F. Cowper Capt. of ‘Wight’ 304 ‘You'll be aboard o' us an' you take no more care,’ sung out the Master through a speaking-tube. |