chalumeau

noun

cha·​lu·​meau
¦shalə¦mō
plural chalumeaux
-ōz
1
a
: a medieval wind instrument consisting of an upright tube surmounted by a small tube in which was fixed a double reed : shawm
b
: an obsolete single-reed wind instrument of varying size that after progressive modifications became the clarinet
2
3
: the lowest register of the clarinet
often used as a direction to play a passage an octave lower
4
: a reed organ pipe usually of 8-foot pitch and of clarinetlike tone

called also schalmei

Word History

Etymology

French, from Late Latin calamellus little reed

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Dictionary Entries Near chalumeau

Cite this Entry

“Chalumeau.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chalumeau. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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