hurdy-gurdy

plural hurdy-gurdies

1. entertainmentA stringed instrument that produces a droning sound by turning a handle that connects to a wheel that rubs against a rosined string, with a keyboard also used to alter the pitch of the string.

   Synonyms: organistrum, wheel fiddle

2. entertainmentSynonym of street organ, often considered a misnomer.

   He flung open the door, and found there only a ragged boy with a hurdy-gurdy on his back.

   1956 [1880], Johanna Spyri, Heidi, translation of original by Eileen Hall, page 83

   Synonyms: street organ, often considered a misnomer

3. CaliforniaUSA water wheel with radial buckets, driven by the impact of a jet.
4. fishingA winch, a windlass.

   A pair of oars, a small mast and sail, pen boards to contain the fish, a bailer, a water jar, a bait knife, a compass, a small wooden winch called a hurdy gurdy, a fish gaff, and the tubs, trawls, floats, and anchors used to set gear was all that was required to equip it.

   2009, Keith McLaren, A Race for Real Sailors, page 20

1. humorousnot comparableSounding like the Swedish language.

   “You mean when she read that God-awful poem in her hurdy-gurdy Swedish chef accent?

   1995, Jones, Tanya, Ophelia O. and the mortgage bandits, →OCLC

   2 more examples

   Swedes are often said to sing while they speak. (Listen to Floyd, the Muppet’s Swedish chef, singing “Hurdy Gurdy” and you’ll understand this.)

   1996, Svensson, Charlotte Rosen, Culture shock!, →OCLC

   Just don’t do what the Swedish chef from The Muppet Show does and start playing tennis with the meatballs, or start waving your cooking utensils about the kitchen and shouting ‘hurdy gurdy’ at your mates.

   2009, The great big bumper book of marmite, →OCLC