chalumeau

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/ˌʃælʊˈməʊ/

noun

A woodwind instrument which was the predecessor of the clarinet.

OriginFrench chalumeau ← Late Latin calamellus ← Latin calamus →
Scrabble 16
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Meanings

nounchalumeau (plural chalumeaus or chalumeaux)

plural chalumeaus · plural chalumeaux

  1. historicalentertainmentA woodwind instrument which was the predecessor of the clarinet.
  2. entertainmentThe lowest range of the clarinet, reaching up to written B♭ (B flat) above middle C.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekκάλαμος“reed”
  2. Latincalamus“reed”
  3. Late Latincalamellus
  4. Frenchchalumeau
  5. Englishchalumeau

Borrowed from French chalumeau, from Late Latin calamellus, diminutive of Latin calamus (“reed”), from Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos, “reed”). Doublet of shawm and probably caramel.

More words from French, Late Latin, Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan caramella
  • caramellawoodwind instrument preceding the clarinet
French chalumeau
  • chalumeauwoodwind instrument preceding the clarinet
Italian salmoè
  • salmoèwoodwind instrument preceding the clarinet
Cite this entry
APA

chalumeau. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chalumeau

MLA

“chalumeau.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chalumeau. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “chalumeau,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/chalumeau.

Source: chalumeau on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.