bell lyre

noun

bell ly·​re -ˌlī(-ə)r How to pronounce bell lyre (audio)
variants also bell-lyra
: a glockenspiel mounted in a portable lyre-shaped frame and used especially in marching bands

Word History

Etymology

lyra from Latin, lyre

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bell lyre was in 1934

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bell lyre.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bell%20lyre. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!