metallophone

A category of musical instrument that is a subset of the idiophones. From the Greek -phone (sound or voice) and Latin metallo- (metal)

A metallophone is a musical instrument that consists of a series of metal bars of varying pitch which produce sound when struck with hammers.

Me*tal"lo*phone (?), n. [L. metallum metal + Gr. &?; sound.] (Music)

(a)

An instrument like a pianoforte, but having metal bars instead of strings.

(b)

An instrument like the xylophone, but having metallic instead of wooden bars.

© Webster 1913