Dictaphone

/ˈdɪktəfoʊn/ noun

Definition

An early brand of dictating machine that recorded voice onto wax cylinders or discs, allowing people to dictate letters and memos for later transcription.

Etymology

Portmanteau of 'dictate' and 'phone' (from Greek phone meaning 'sound'). Trademarked in the early 1900s as an innovation that changed office work forever.

Kelly Says

Before emails and voice messages, the Dictaphone was THE way busy executives could record their thoughts hands-free—it's basically the grandfather of your voice recorder app!

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