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ophicleide

 - 3 dictionary results

oph⋅i⋅cleide

  [of-i-klahyd]
Use ophicleide in a Sentence
–noun
a musical wind instrument, a development of the old wooden serpent, consisting of a conical metal tube bent double.
Origin:
1825–35; < F ophicléide < Gk óphi(s) serpent + kleid- (s. of kleís) key (akin to L clavis; see clavicle )

Related forms:
oph⋅i⋅clei⋅de⋅an, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To ophicleide
oph·i·cleide   (ŏf'ĭ-klīd')   
n.  A keyed brass instrument of the bugle family with a baritone range that was the structural precursor of the bass saxophone and was replaced by the tuba in orchestras.

[French : Greek ophis, snake (from its resemblance to the serpent, a musical instrument) + Greek klēis, klēid-, key.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Encyclopedia

ophicleide

brass wind musical instrument with a cup-shaped mouthpiece and padded keys, the bass version of the old keyed bugle. The name (from Greek ophis and kleid, "serpent" and "key") alludes to its improvement on the military band "upright serpents" (now-obsolete S-shaped bass instruments sounded by vibration of the lips against a cup mouthpiece) by providing 11 brass keys to replace open finger holes

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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