bullroarer

Musical instrument used by Australian Aborigines for communication and during religious rites. It consists of a weighted aerofoil (a rectangular slat of wood about 15 cm/6 in to 60 cm/24 in long and about 1.25 cm/0.5 in to 5 cm/2 in wide) whirled rapidly about the head on a long cord to make a deep whirring noise. It is also used in many other parts of the world, including Britain.

American Indian peoples used it as an instrument of sympathetic magic, its noise representing the wind that accompanies rain, in order to induce, by mimicry, the rain itself. Some Australian Aborigines use it to frighten women away from tribal councils and rituals in which only men are allowed to participate. The women are told that the noise is the voice of the presiding god.