Hi Robbie,  As long as we are discussing what to call things,
how about the various terms of for small barrel or roll organs:

the monkey organ, the barrel organ, the hurdy-gurdy (completely
  incorrect but frequently used), cob organ (although that is for
  a specific type organette), and the man who makes the music,
  the organ grinder.

I'm sure there are more.  Is there any consensus as to what to
call small organs that sometimes come with a monkey (or in Poland,
a parrot)?

There is another mechanical music object that there seems to be a
problem with naming (only a problem in Germany).  The Germans call
any type music box by a great number of different names:

  Leierkasten, Walzenspielwerk,  Walzenspieluhr,
  (Musik-)Spieldose,  (Musik-)Spielwerk, Spieluhr.

Isn't language fun!  What are some of the other odd terms related
to mechanical music?

Beatrice Robertson

 [ The terms can indicate the appearance, where it is seen, how it
 [ sounds, or the type of mechanism.  And if that isn't enough, often
 [ a traditional term was later applied to a different instrument.
 [
 [ The hurdy-gurdy and Leierkasten were powered with a crank, and
 [ onlookers used those old names when they saw anything that produced
 [ music by turning a crank.  The organ grinder has the same arm motion
 [ as the guy who turns the crank of the mill to grind grain, so he,
 [ too, becomes a "grinder".  -- Robbie