ranz des vaches

UK/ˈɹɒ̃(s)deɪˌvaʃ/US/ˈɹɑ̃(s)deɪˌvɑʃ/

noun

Any of numerous traditional Swiss melodies played on the alpenhorn, originally to call cows in from the mountains.

OriginSwiss French ranz des vaches →
First used 18th c.
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Meanings

nounranz des vaches (plural ranz des vaches)
  1. entertainmentAny of numerous traditional Swiss melodies played on the alpenhorn, originally to call cows in from the mountains.First known use 18th c.

    The herald cries his summons to the lists, But no sound comes to these sequestered valleys; I only hear the melancholy note Of cowbells and the dreary ranz des vaches.

    1972, Friedrich Schiller, translated by William F. Mainland, Wilhelm Tell, act II, scene i

Origin

  1. Swiss Frenchranz des vaches
  2. Englishranz des vaches

From Swiss French ranz des vaches.

More words from Swiss French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

“ranz des vaches.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ranz%20des%20vaches. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

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

Source: ranz des vaches on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.