Oxford Companion to Music: "A generic term of French origin for voice-changing ‘singing membranes’ (e.g. comb and paper, *kazoo). Many instruments incorporate mirlitons to impart a buzzing quality to the sound, for example the Chinese di, a flute with a membrane-covered hole between the embouchure and the fingerholes; and many African harps, xylophones, and *lamellophones have mirlitons fitted over holes in the resonators."
Toop discusses mirlitons in the context of Cage's prepared piano resonation experiments, 142