carillon

[ kar-uh-lon, -luhnor, especially British, kuh-ril-yuhn ]

noun

1. a set of stationary bells hung in a tower and sounded by manual or pedal action, or by machinery.
2. a set of horizontal metal plates, struck by hammers, used in the modern orchestra.

carillon

/ kəˈrɪljən /

noun

1. a set of bells usually hung in a tower and played either by keys and pedals or mechanically
2. a tune played on such bells
3. an organ stop giving the effect of a bell
4. a form of celesta or keyboard glockenspiel

verb

1. intr to play a carillon

Word History and Origins

Origin of carillon¹

1765–75; < French: set of bells, Old French car ( e ) ignon, quarregnon < Vulgar Latin *quadriniōn-, re-formation of Late Latin quaterniōn- quaternion; presumably originally a set of four bells

Word History and Origins

Origin of carillon¹

C18: from French: set of bells, from Old French quarregnon, ultimately from Latin quattuor four

Example Sentences

This is Bruges sleeping peacefully in old age, lulled to rest by the sound of its own carillon.

From Project Gutenberg

The carillon rung from the Belfry, guns were fired, and a ceremony in honour of the event took place in the Htel de Ville.

From Project Gutenberg

There we took coach, as the locks at Carillon are not yet large enough for full-sized steamers to pass.

From Project Gutenberg

Where of old, confused and lonely, le carillon noir of pain sounded, now all the strings of the heart vibrate and sing.

From Project Gutenberg

They had letters of introduction to a gentleman near Carillon on the Ottawa, and others to a family at Toronto.

From Project Gutenberg