(Also unhyphened.) [SPEAKING vbl. sb. 5 b.]
1. A tube or pipe for speaking, or communicating orders, from one room, building, etc., to another.
1833. Loudon, Encycl. Archit., § 1457. Orders being given by the waiter above through a speaking-tube.
1844. T. Webster, Encycl. Dom. Econ., § 4797. These speaking tubes first came into use here … about thirty-five years ago.
1894. Eliz. L. Banks, Camp. Curiosity, 27. Annie was called to the hall to answer the whistle of the speaking-tube.
attrib. 1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl. 834/1. Speaking Tube Whistle. A modification of an intonating modulating steam whistle.
2. A speaking-trumpet.
1889. F. Cowper, Capt. of ‘Wight,’ 304. ‘You’ll be aboard o’ us an’ you take no more care,’ sung out the Master through a speaking-tube.
