carillon

American  

[kar-uh-lon, -luhn, kuh-ril-yuhn] / ˈkær əˌlɒn, -lən, kəˈrɪl yən /

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.

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carillon British  

/ 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

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verb

1. (intr) to play a carillon

Etymology

Origin of carillon

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

Example Sentences

At noon on Tuesday, some church bells and carillons in the Netherlands didn’t sound like they usually do.

From New York Times

Charles Semowich, who plays the carillon inside the 392-foot tower at Riverside Church, said he hears occasional screeching outside his window.

From Seattle Times

Artists can take over and “play” billboards and the chapel like a carillonneur playing a carillon.

From New York Times

The final gesture comes as a surprise: a sudden, brilliant cascade from opposite ends of the keyboard toward the center, a carillon from the beyond.

From New York Times

Frank was 10 when his father took him into the carillon tower at Maastricht’s city hall.

From Washington Post