a perforated roll of paper actuating the playing mechanism of a Pianola
Also called: music roll
piano roll in American English
noun
a roll of paper containing perforations such that air passing through them actuates the keys of a player piano
Word origin
[1925–30]This word is first recorded in the period 1925–30. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: distinctive feature, dropout, gimmick, payload, turnaround