xylophone \xy"lophone\, n. xylo- + gr. fwnh` sound.
   1913 webster
   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
see also:
strohfiedel straw fiddle