Definition
A small, egg-shaped wind instrument with finger holes, typically made from clay or ceramic, that produces a warm, hollow sound. Ocarinas originated in ancient Mesoamerica and China and gained popularity in classical and world music.
Example Usage
The musician played a haunting melody on her ocarina during the folk music festival.
Origin
From Italian 'ocarina,' a diminutive of 'oca' (goose), referring to the instrument's goose-like shape.
Fun Fact
The ocarina became widely known internationally through its featured role as the primary instrument in the video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
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