calliope

/kəˈlaɪəpi/

Other forms: calliopes

A calliope is an old-fashioned, steam powered musical instrument. While a calliope is played using a piano keyboard, the sound is so loud it can often be heard from miles away.

During the Industrial Revolution, steam was used to power all sorts of things, from trains to riverboats to circus carousels. Calliopes were invented as a perfect accompaniment to this "age of steam." Calliopes were known for their loud, harsh tones that sound very similar to train whistles. Even though no one would argue that a calliope sounds lovely, the name comes from the beautiful-voiced Greek Muse Kalliope.

Definitions of calliope

1. noun

   a musical instrument consisting of a series of steam whistles played from a keyboard
   synonyms: steam organ

   type of:

   instrument, musical instrument

   any of various devices or contrivances that can be used to produce musical tones or sounds