solo player
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
A miserable performer on any instrument, who always plays alone, because no one will stay in the room to hear him.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “solo player” mean?
A miserable performer on any instrument, who always plays alone, because no one will stay in the room to hear him.
Is “solo player” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.