chalumeau

[ shal-yuh-moh; French sha-ly-moh ]

noun

, plural chal·u·meaux [shal-y, uh, -, mohz, sh, a, -l, y, -, moh].

1. Music. the low register of the clarinet.
2. a 17th- or 18th-century woodwind instrument.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chalumeau¹

1705–15; < French: originally, flute made from a reed, stem of a reed; Old French chalemel < Late Latin calamellus narrow reed; calamus, -elle

Example Sentences

Then one day his father brought him to see his aunt—who had married Monsieur Chalumeau, my uncle, you see?

From Project Gutenberg

Madame Chalumeau's face, glossy and red-and-white like a Norman apple, wore an expression of anxious expectation.

From Project Gutenberg

Good Madame Chalumeau climbed down from her chair with a generous display of fat, black woollen legs and unpinned her skirt.

From Project Gutenberg

Madame Chalumeau flopped her omelet again, slid it to a platter and set a carafe of cider on the table.

From Project Gutenberg

Madame Chalumeau had risen, and had led her guest through the sitting-room into her immaculate kitchen.

From Project Gutenberg