-hurdy-gurdy-

n. [ Prob. of imitative origin. ] 1. A stringled instrument, lutelike in shape, in which the sound is produced by the friction of a wheel turned by a crank at the end, instead of by a bow, two of the strings being tuned as drones, while two or more, tuned in unison, are modulated by keys. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. In California, a water wheel with radial buckets, driven by the impact of a jet. [ 1913 Webster ]