basset horn

noun

An alto instrument of the clarinet family, pitched in F below middle C, with a range reaching down to F below that.

OriginGerman Bassetthorn ← French cor de bassette ← Italian corno di bassetto →
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Meanings

nounbasset horn (plural basset horns)

plural basset horns

  1. entertainmentAn alto instrument of the clarinet family, pitched in F below middle C, with a range reaching down to F below that.

Origin

  1. Italiancorno di bassetto
  2. Frenchcor de bassette
  3. GermanBassetthorn
  4. Englishbasset horn

From German Bassetthorn, translation of French cor de bassette, from Italian corno di bassetto.

More words from German, French, Italian

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Czech basetový roh
  • basetový rohalto instrument of the clarinet family
Dutch bassethoorn
  • bassethoornalto instrument of the clarinet family
Finnish basettitorvi
  • basettitorvialto instrument of the clarinet family
French cor de basset
  • cor de bassetalto instrument of the clarinet family
German Bassetthorn
  • Bassetthornalto instrument of the clarinet family
Icelandic bassetthorn
  • bassetthornalto instrument of the clarinet family
Italian corno di bassetto
  • corno di bassettoalto instrument of the clarinet family
Japanese バセットホルン
  • バセットホルン (basettohorun)alto instrument of the clarinet family
Polish rożek basetowy, basethorn
  • rożek basetowyalto instrument of the clarinet family
  • basethornalto instrument of the clarinet family
  • basetornalto instrument of the clarinet family
Spanish corno di bassetto
  • corno di bassettoalto instrument of the clarinet family
Swedish bassetthorn
  • bassetthornalto instrument of the clarinet family
Cite this entry
APA

basset horn. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basset%20horn

MLA

“basset horn.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basset%20horn. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “basset horn,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/basset%20horn.

Source: basset horn on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.