POLYLECTRON (from the Greek πολύ, much, and ἤλεκτρον, light and staccato, the quality of the tone varied. The lower sounds and medium ones closely resembled those of the double bass, violoncello, and viola. Dietz had not succeeded in imitating the sounds of a violin. The orchestrino of Poullieu, and some other instruments on the same principle, preceded Dietz's polylectron. (G. V. G.)