Jewish piano

English

Etymology

From the row of keys on a cash register and the stereotype of Jews as money-grubbing.

Pronunciation

  • Audio (General Australian):(file)

Noun

Jewish piano (plural Jewish pianos)

  1. (slang, offensive) A cash register.
    Synonym: Jewish typewriter
    • 1921 September, The Virginia Reel, volume II, number 1, Lynchburg, Virginia: Published by The Virginia Reel Board, at the University of Virginia [...], →OCLC, page 2:
      I want to buy a Jewish piano.
      What's that?
      Cash register.
    • 2003, Anthony Bukoski, Time Between Trains, Stories by Anthony Bukoski, page 22:
      Seeing Joe Rubin, someone would yell to Ogy, the bartender, as he rang up a cash register sale, "Play that Jewish piano, Ogy. Make the Jewish piano sing.
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