- phonograph (n.)
- 1835, "character representing a sound," literally "writer of sounds," from phono- "sound" + -graph "instrument for recording; something written," from Greek graphe "writing," from graphein "to write, express by written characters," earlier "to draw, represent by lines drawn" (see -graphy). Meaning "an instrument that produces sounds from records" (talking phonograph, invented by Thomas A. Edison) it is attested from 1877. The recording made from it at first was called a phonogram (1879).