trumpet
/ˈtrʌmpɪt/
noun
Origin
Old French
trompe — horn or trumpet
Overview
Meaning Now
- A brass musical instrument with a flared bell and three valves for changing pitch.
- The loud, resonant cry of an elephant.
Literal older meaning
a small trumpet or horn
Language path
Latin → Old French → English
Earliest form
trompette
Earliest period
13th century
Journey
The term derives from an imitation of the sound made by a wind instrument, likely influenced by the Old French 'trompe'. It eventually replaced the Old English word 'beome' (beam).
Evolution
- Late Latin
troma
“horn”
Suggestive of Germanic influence.
- Old French
trompe
“musical horn”
- Middle English
trompete
“brass instrument”
- Modern English
trumpet
“standard brass instrument”
Connections
Word parts
trump
root
horn
et
suffix
diminutive
Related across languages
French
trompette
trumpet
Italian
tromba
trumpet
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Related to trumpet
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.