bourdon

[ boor-dn, bawr-, bohr- ]

noun

, Music.

1. 1. the drone pipe of a bagpipe.
   2. the drone string of a stringed instrument.
2. a low-pitched tone; bass.
3. a pipe organ stop of very low pitch.
4. the bell in a carillon having the lowest pitch.

bourdon

/ ˈbɔːdən; ˈbʊədən /

noun

1. a 16-foot organ stop of the stopped diapason type
2. the drone of a bagpipe
3. a drone or pedal point in the bass of a harmonized melody

Word History and Origins

Origin of bourdon¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Middle French; burden ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of bourdon¹

C14: from Old French: drone (of a musical instrument), of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Worcester Cathedral's bourdon bell was similarly struck 99 times in honour of the duke.

From BBC

“I will miss the bourdon Emmanuel chiming the twelve coups de minuit” — the stroke of midnight — “so loud and solemn, which can be heard eight miles away.”

From Washington Post

The so-called “bourdon”, the largest bell, goes by the name of “Emmanuel”.

From Reuters

At the cathedral, the coffin was brought into the vast chamber and a bourdon bell tolled.

From New York Times

They will all be tuned to the great bourdon bell Emmanuel.

From BBC