Reed

(Ger. Rohr’blatt, Zung’e; Fr. anche; It. an'cia, lin'gua.) A thin strip of cane, wood, or metal, so adjusted before an aperture as nearly to close it, fixed at one end, and set by an air-current in vibration, which it communicates either to an enclosed column of air (organ-pipe, oboe, etc.) or direct ly to the free atmosphere, thus producing a musical tone. There are 2 cla es of reeds, (1) Free Reeds, which vibrate within the aperture without striking the edges; and (2) Beating (or striking, or percu ion) Reeds, which strike on the edges; in either cla , the elasticity of the reed causes its return-stroke after it is borne down by the air-current— Double Reed, two beating reeds. which strike against each other (oboe, ba oon). (Also comp. Pipe 2, 4, Reed organ, Regal.)