clarinet

The story

1. Latin · derived fromclarus
2. French · derived fromclarinette
3. Latin · derived fromclarus
4. Italian · borrowed fromclarinetto
5. English todayclarinet

Borrowed from Italian clarinetto, diminutive of clarino (“trumpet”) (as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet), from Latin clarus. Alternatively, the word may come from French clarinette, diminutive form of clarine (“bell”), from clarin, from clair (“clear”), from Latin clarus.

Words from the same roots