English horn

American  

noun

1. a large oboe, a fifth lower in pitch than the ordinary oboe, having a pear-shaped bell and producing a mellow tone.

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English horn British  

noun

1. music another name for cor anglais

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Etymology

Origin of English horn

First recorded in 1830–40

Compare meaning

How does english-horn compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• English horn vs. French horn

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

English horn

Pedro R. Díaz played the haunting English horn solos—in costume in the tunnel—embodying the lifelong mourning that torments Tristan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 11, 2026

At some recitals he would switch among English horn, oboe d’amore and traditional oboe.

From New York Times ● May 12, 2023

Kathryn Meany Wilson gave a beautiful solo on English horn — tracing the path of a plane through darkness.

From Washington Post ● Nov. 11, 2022

Kudos to them all, particularly to the eloquent English horn of Stefan Farkas, whose solo passages added so much to the atmosphere of longing and heartbreak.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 17, 2022

The oboe or hautboy, English horn, and the bassoon have what are called double reeds.

From How to Listen to Music, 7th ed. Hints and Suggestions to Untaught Lovers of the Art by Krehbiel, Henry Edward