hurdy-gurdy
noun

- a string instrument that produces sound by a hand-turned wheel rubbing against the strings

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ORIGIN

The word “hurdy-gurdy” is of mid-18th century origin and is imitative (onomatopoeic) of the sound of the instrument. The hurdy-gurdy evolved from a much earlier 9th century instrument, the "organistrum".

By the end of the 17th century changing musical tastes demanded greater polyphonic capabilities than the hurdy-gurdy could offer and pushed the instrument to the lowest social classes; as a result it acquired names like the German Bauernleier ‘peasant’s lyre’ and Bettlerleier ‘beggar’s lyre’.

Donovan’s 1968 hit song “Hurdy-Gurdy Man” triggered a revival of this curious instrument. An annual hurdy-gurdy music festival takes place in Washington State each September.

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A LINGUISTIC CURIOSITY

“Hurdy-Gurdy” is a wonderfully, curious word combining euphony, onomatopoeia, and reduplication, all at the same time:

- euphony = a harmonious succession of words having a pleasing sound

- onomatopoeia = the forming of a word that sounds like the thing it represents (e.g. buzz, cuckoo, sizzle)

- reduplication =  repetition of a sound or syllable in a word (e.g. chit-chat, hocus-pocus, tip-top)

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“HURDY GURDY MAN” Donovan (1968)

Thrown like a star in my vast sleep
I opened my eyes to take a peek
To find that I was by the sea
Gazing with tranquility

’Twas then when the Hurdy-Gurdy Man
Came singing songs of love.

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“Nowadays, you’ll often see the HURDY-GURDY being played in medieval festivals throughout Europe.”

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THANKS to Florian for suggesting today’s linguistic curiosity.

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HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

and,

Paul Smith, IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40