1. (Mus.) Originally, an instrument common among the Russians, Poles, and Tartars, consisting of a series of strips of wood or glass graduated in length to the musical scale, resting on belts of straw, and struck with two small hammers; now any similar musical instrument composed of a series of bars of graduated length. Called in Germany strohfiedel, or straw fiddle. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]
2. An instrument to determine the vibrative properties of different kinds of wood. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]