sackbut

[ sak-buht ]

noun

1. a medieval form of the trombone.
2. Bible. an ancient stringed musical instrument. Daniel 3.

sackbut

/ ˈsækˌbʌt /

noun

1. a medieval form of trombone

Word History and Origins

Origin of sackbut¹

First recorded in 1530–40; Early Modern English sagbut, sagbot, sagbout, from Middle French saquebute, from Old North French saqueboute, saquebot(t)e originally, a kind of hooked lance, equivalent to saquier “to pull” + (possibly) bouter “to push”; saccade, butt ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of sackbut¹

C16: from French saqueboute, from Old French saquer to pull + bouter to push; see butt ³: used in the Bible (Daniel 3) as a mistranslation of Aramaic sabb'ka stringed instrument

Example Sentences

In one place he is merely called a Minstrel, but in the other he is specifically described as a Sackbut.

From Project Gutenberg

He can play any musical instrument from a sackbut to a Jew's harp, and speak any language from Czech to Choctaw.

From Project Gutenberg

But she recovered rapidly after her marriage, her eyes grew brighter, we saw less of Sackbut's "delicious skeleton."

From Project Gutenberg

Among them are the Psaltery of various shapes, the Sambuca or sackbut, the single and double Chorus, &c.

From Project Gutenberg

At last one day he remembered the walnut which Sackbut had given him.

From Project Gutenberg