1930s; earliest use found in The Oxford Companion to Music. From French ondes musicales, lit. ‘musical waves’ from ondes + musicales, feminine plural of musical; named by Maurice Martenot. Compare slightly earlier Martenot, Ondium Martenot, Ondes Martenot.
Definition of Ondes musicales in US English:
Ondes musicales
noun
Ondes Martenot.
Origin
1930s; earliest use found in The Oxford Companion to Music. From French ondes musicales, lit. ‘musical waves’ from ondes + musicales, feminine plural of musical; named by Maurice Martenot. Compare slightly earlier Martenot, Ondium Martenot, Ondes Martenot.