melodeon

plural melodeons · alternative melodium

1. historicalentertainmentA type of reed organ with a single keyboard.

   The thin, nearsighted young woman who had been humped over the keyboard of the melodeon, straightened up. The worshipers relaxed a little and began to look about.

   1909, Joseph C. Lincoln, chapter 5, in Keziah Coffin

2. entertainmentAn accordion where the melody-side keyboard is limited to the notes of diatonic scales in a small number of keys.

   His brother, Roy, joined him as a dancer - their two-man jigs were much admired - and his nephew, Jamie Wheeler, has become the side's principal musician, on melodeon and fiddle.

   2009 January 13, Derek Schofield, “Francis Shergold”, in The Guardian

   1 more example

   But Chae said it didn't matter, he'd bring his melodeon and Long Rob his fiddle; and faith! if that didn't content the folk they were looking for a church parade of the Gordons, not a wedding.

   1932, Lewis Grassic Gibbon, Sunset Song (A Scots Quair), Polygon, published 2006, page 147

   Synonyms: diatonic button accordion

plural melodeons · alternative melodium

1. UShistoricalA music hall.