What does squeezebox mean?
Squeezebox most commonly denotes an accordion or a closely related free-reed instrument whose sound is produced by pushing and pulling its bellows. The name vividly suggests both the instrument's mechanical action and the way a musician may bring its bellows under pressure. In this musical sense, the word is familiar, affectionate, and especially associated with folk, traditional, and dance music, although it can refer generally to concertinas and related instruments as well. A second, chiefly North American informal sense describes any very cramped space, such as a small apartment, a crowded compartment, or an old car. Here the metaphor is of people and possessions being squeezed into a confined area. The word is therefore useful not only as a name for an instrument but also as a compact description of restricted space, conveying informality, physical tightness, and occasionally the noisy energy of a crowded venue.
nounAn accordion or closely related free-reed instrument whose bellows are worked by pushing and pulling them. By extension, a squeezebox is a small or cramped space in which people or objects are confined.
- An accordion or closely related free-reed instrument, especially one played by pushing and pulling its bellows.
- A small, cramped room, compartment, vehicle, or other space that leaves little room to move.
"The musicians played fiddle and squeezebox until the little room began to sway."
"An old squeezebox sat open on the table, its cracked bellows ready for one more tune."
"The cab was such a squeezebox that every passenger had to watch the traffic lights through someone else's shoulder."
The regular plural adds -es, pronounced /ˈskwiːzbɑːksɪz/ in American English or /ˈskwiːzbɒksɪz/ in British English.
"Two old squeezeboxes sat on the stage beside a violin case."
A squeezebox turns a pair of bellows and a row of buttons into an entire band.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of squeezebox
Squeezebox is an English compound formed from the older words squeeze and box. Its musical sense refers to the action of working the instrument's bellows, while its use for the instrument itself developed from that practical association. The separate sense for a cramped space extends the broader idea of squeezing people or belongings into a limited area.
Related word forms
How squeezebox is actually used
The musical sense is an informal but established name, especially for an accordion played in folk, traditional, or dance music. The cramped-space sense is also informal and is particularly common in North American English.