clarinet

Where does the word "clarinet" come from? It comes from Italian clarino, passing through French before entering English (1770s).

Clarinet’s story begins in Italian: clarino meant “a clear, bright trumpet.” A high trumpet, from clarus (clear), describing the instrument's bright tone. By 1700s, the word had taken hold in French as clarinette. Adapted in French for the newly developed reed woodwind instrument. It reached English by 1770s as clarinet. Settled as the English word for the single-reed woodwind instrument. Today, clarinet means a woodwind instrument played with a single reed.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · 1600s clarino "a clear, bright trumpet", a high trumpet, from clarus (clear), describing the instrument's bright tone.
2. Stage 2 · French · 1700s clarinette "a reed woodwind instrument", adapted in French for the newly developed reed woodwind instrument.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1770s clarinet "a single-reed woodwind instrument", settled as the English word for the single-reed woodwind instrument.