sackbut
Americannoun
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a medieval form of the trombone.
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Bible. an ancient stringed musical instrument. Daniel 3.
noun
Etymology
Origin of sackbut
First recorded in 1530–40; Early Modern English sagbut, sagbot, sagbout, from Middle French saquebute, from Old North French saqueboute, saquebot(t)e originally, a kind of hooked lance, equivalent to saquier “to pull” + (possibly) bouter “to push”; saccade, butt 3
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
This will not be Monteverdi as we have heard him; there will be nary a period instrument in sight, neither a harpsichord nor a sackbut, a theorbo nor a cornett.
From New York Times
Apart from fine work by those playing strings and especially the trombone-like sackbuts, the performances had serious flaws, mainly stemming from the work of a few singers well past their prime.
From New York Times
Mr. Savall assembled a Renaissance big band of 24 players, wielding cornetto, shawms, dulcians and sackbuts as well as ancient and newer strings, and a cast of six singers and two actors.
From New York Times
In truth, the differences appear minimal to all but the specialist for whom the substitution of tenor cornett for alto sackbut is a matter of concern.
From The Guardian
Reed instruments for dance and song; Brave horns beneath the blue; The sistrum and the thunder-gong; The pipe and tabour, too; And all the craft of minstrelsy: Harp, sackbut, cymbal, psaltery, Were fashioned.
From Project Gutenberg
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.