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

This will not be Monteverdi as we have heard him; there will be nary a period instrument in sight, neither a harpsichord nor a sackbut, a theorbo nor a cornett.

From New York Times

Apart from fine work by those playing strings and especially the trombone-like sackbuts, the performances had serious flaws, mainly stemming from the work of a few singers well past their prime.

From New York Times

Mr. Savall assembled a Renaissance big band of 24 players, wielding cornetto, shawms, dulcians and sackbuts as well as ancient and newer strings, and a cast of six singers and two actors.

From New York Times

In truth, the differences appear minimal to all but the specialist for whom the substitution of tenor cornett for alto sackbut is a matter of concern.

From The Guardian

Reed instruments for dance and song; Brave horns beneath the blue; The sistrum and the thunder-gong; The pipe and tabour, too; And all the craft of minstrelsy: Harp, sackbut, cymbal, psaltery, Were fashioned.

From Project Gutenberg