otacousticon

English

Etymology

From combining form of Ancient Greek οὖς (oûs, ear) + ἀκουστικόν (akoustikón), neuter of ἀκουστικός (akoustikós, acoustic).

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /əʊtəˈkuːstɪkɒn/

Noun

otacousticon (plural otacousticons)

  1. (now rare) An instrument to aid hearing, such as an ear trumpet or hearing aid.
    • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: [], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: [] John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC:
      , New York Review of Books, 2001, p.69:
      [] Gyges' invisible ring, or some rare perspective glass, or otacousticon, which would so multiply species that a man might hear and see all at once […].