carillon

[ kar-uh-lon, -luhnor, especially British, kuh-ril-yuhn ]

noun

1. a set of stationary bells hung in a tower and sounded by manual or pedal action, or by machinery.
2. a set of horizontal metal plates, struck by hammers, used in the modern orchestra.

carillon

/ kəˈrɪljən /

noun

1. a set of bells usually hung in a tower and played either by keys and pedals or mechanically
2. a tune played on such bells
3. an organ stop giving the effect of a bell
4. a form of celesta or keyboard glockenspiel

verb

1. intr to play a carillon

Word History and Origins

Origin of carillon¹

1765–75; < French: set of bells, Old French car ( e ) ignon, quarregnon < Vulgar Latin *quadriniōn-, re-formation of Late Latin quaterniōn- quaternion; presumably originally a set of four bells

Word History and Origins

Origin of carillon¹

C18: from French: set of bells, from Old French quarregnon, ultimately from Latin quattuor four

Example Sentences

At noon on Tuesday, some church bells and carillons in the Netherlands didn’t sound like they usually do.

From New York Times

Charles Semowich, who plays the carillon inside the 392-foot tower at Riverside Church, said he hears occasional screeching outside his window.

From Seattle Times

Artists can take over and “play” billboards and the chapel like a carillonneur playing a carillon.

From New York Times

The final gesture comes as a surprise: a sudden, brilliant cascade from opposite ends of the keyboard toward the center, a carillon from the beyond.

From New York Times

The carillon isn’t just a workout for the legs.

From Washington Post