Xy·lo·phone n.
 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.
 2. An instrument to determine the vibrative properties of different kinds of wood.

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