hurdy-gurdy
/ˈhɜː.diˌɡɜː.di/
"hurdy-gurdy" is a 10-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“hurdy-gurdy” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 11
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - A stringed instrument that produces a droning sound by turning a handle that connects to a wheel that rubs against a rosined string, with a keyboard also used to alter the pitch of the string.
Corpus desk
Index EN-hurdy-gurdy · hurdy-gurdy · English
hurdy-gurdy · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables
- FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
- LEN-MEGA 11 letters
- VOW-4 4 vowels
- CONFUS-0 No pairs
- VAR-0 0 variants
- BOOK-THIN "H" thin
- PHOTO-UNK Peer pending
Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern
Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | hurdy-gurdy |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˈhɜː.diˌɡɜː.di/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Long-tail rank of “hurdy-gurdy” in English
Rare enough to double-check
hurdy-gurdy is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈhɜː.diˌɡɜː.di/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.
No generated misspelling entries exist for hurdy-gurdy in our index, which points to an orthography that plays by predictable English rules. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.
Etymologically, the entry records: Probably onomatopoeic in imitation of the sound produced by the stringed instrument. Compare obsolete hirdy-girdy (“an uproar; noise”). Attested from the 1740s. The correct English form is hurdy-gurdy, spelled H-U-R-D-Y---G-U-R-D-Y.
Definition
- 1A stringed instrument that produces a droning sound by turning a handle that connects to a wheel that rubs against a rosined string, with a keyboard also used to alter the pitch of the string.
- 2Synonym of street organ, often considered a misnomer.
- 3A water wheel with radial buckets, driven by the impact of a jet.
- 4A winch, a windlass.
Recorded use
Wiktionary examplesThese source excerpts show how hurdy-gurdy appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.
He flung open the door, and found there only a ragged boy with a hurdy-gurdy on his back.
A pair of oars, a small mast and sail, pen boards to contain the fish, a bailer, a water jar, a bait knife, a compass, a small wooden winch called a hurdy gurdy, a fish gaff, and the tubs, trawls, floats, and anchors used to set gear was all that was required to equip it.
Etymology
Probably onomatopoeic in imitation of the sound produced by the stringed instrument. Compare obsolete hirdy-girdy (“an uproar; noise”). Attested from the 1740s.
Synonyms
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.