tremulant

American  

[trem-yuh-luhnt] / ˈtrɛm yə lənt /

adjective

1. trembling; tremulous.

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tremulant British  

/ ˈtrɛmjʊlənt /

noun

1. music

   1. a device on an organ by which the wind stream is made to fluctuate in intensity producing a tremolo effect

   2. a device on an electrophonic instrument designed to produce a similar effect

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Other Word Forms

• untremulant adjective

Etymology

Origin of tremulant

1830–40; < Medieval Latin tremulant- (stem of tremulāns ) present participle of tremulāre to tremble; -ant

Example Sentences

Through the use of a tremulant or two pipes tuned slightly apart this stop produced a slightly undulating tone — an indication that some sort of oscillation was expected in singing.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2016

She stood by the bench, one hand resting on it; she stood all in the tremulant shadow.

From The Gentleman from Indiana by Tarkington, Booth