Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A musical instrument out of tune or rudely constructed; a hurdy-gurdy.
  • noun Music poorly played.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun An instrument out of tune or rudely constructed; music badly played.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun An instrument out of tune or rudely constructed.
  • noun Music badly played.

Etymologies

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Examples

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  • An instrument out of tune or rudely constructed; music badly played.

    August 26, 2008

  • "A musical instrument made of a mopstick, a bladder, and some packthread, thence also called bladder and string, and hurdy gurdy; it is played on like a violin, which is sometimes ludicrously called a humstrum; sometimes, instead of a bladder, a tin can is used."

    - Francis Grose, 'The Vulgar Tongue'.

    September 8, 2008

  • I face a confounding conundrum:

    On alternate days I become dumb.

    My lyre is unstrung,

    The songs I'd have sung

    Are sunk in cacophonous humstrum.

    August 27, 2017