bourdon

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 2 French 2.1 Pronunciation 2.2 Noun 2.2.1 Derived terms

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Old French bourdon ‘drone’ (French bourdon), from Proto-Romance, of imitatory origin.

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /'bʊədən/

[edit] Noun

bourdon

1. (music, archaic) the burden or bass of a melody

   • 1890: The dim roar of London was like the bourdon note of a distant organ. — Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Grey
   • 1985: The earth tremors resumed and made a bourdon to the loud psalms that they sang, interspersed with the odd ode of Horace recited by Silas. — Anthony Burgess, Kingdom of the Wicked

1. the drone pipe of a bagpipe
2. the lowest-pitched stop of an organ
3. the lowest-pitched of a peal of bells
4. a bumblebee

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[edit] French

Wikipedia ^fr

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /buʁ.dɔ̃/
•  bourdon^{help, file}

[edit] Noun

bourdon m. (plural bourdons)

1. bumblebee (species of bee)
2. (music) drone

[edit] Derived terms

• faux-bourdon