shawm

[shawm]

noun

1. an early musical woodwind instrument with a double reed: the forerunner of the modern oboe.

shawm

/ ʃɔːm /

noun

1. music a medieval form of the oboe with a conical bore and flaring bell, blown through a double reed

Word History and Origins

Origin of shawm¹

1300–50; Middle English schalme < Middle French chaume < Latin calamus stalk, reed < Greek kálamos reed; replacing Middle English schallemele < Middle French chalemel ( chalumeau )

Word History and Origins

Origin of shawm¹

C14 shalmye, from Old French chalemie, ultimately from Latin calamus a reed, from Greek kalamos

Example Sentences

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.

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Instrumental contributions were most pleasing when they featured matching instruments, shawms and dulcians together or all recorders, where each overlapping contrapuntal line could be traced in the same timbre.

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Then there's an elegant treatment of The Boar's Head, featuring the shawm, a medieval reed instrument, and sturdy a cappella vocal harmonies on the American spiritual Poor Little Jesus.

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Shawm, Shalm, shawm, n. a musical instrument of the oboe class, having a double reed enclosed in a globular mouthpiece.

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Go, damsels, dance in the meadows to the sound of pipes and shawms.

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