chalumeau

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French chalumeau, from Late Latin calamellus, diminutive of Latin calamus (“reed”), from Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos, “reed”). Doublet of shawm and probably caramel.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌʃælʊˈməʊ/

Noun

chalumeau (plural chalumeaus or chalumeaux)

1. (music) A woodwind instrument which was the predecessor of the clarinet.
2. The lowest range of the clarinet, reaching up to written B♭ (B flat) above middle C.

Translations

woodwind instrument preceding the clarinet

• French: chalumeau (fr) m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Italian: salmoè m

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French

Etymology

From Old French chalemel, from Late Latin calamellus, diminutive of Latin calamus (“reed”), from Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos, “reed”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃa.ly.mo/

Noun

chalumeau m (plural chalumeaux)

1. blowtorch
2. (music) chalumeau
3. (perhaps dated) drinking straw

Related terms

• chaume

Further reading

• “chalumeau”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.