trumpet

Where does the word "trumpet" come from? It comes from Old High German trumba, passing through Old French before entering English (1300s).

Trumpet’s story begins in Old High German: trumba meant “a brass wind instrument.” A long tubular brass wind instrument. By medieval, the word had taken hold in Old French as trompette. Carried into French instrument vocabulary. It reached English by 1300s as trumpet. Settled as the English word for the brass wind instrument. Today, trumpet means a brass wind instrument with a bright, penetrating tone.

1. Stage 1 · Old High German · medieval trumba "a brass wind instrument", a long tubular brass wind instrument.
2. Stage 2 · Old French · medieval trompette "a brass wind instrument", carried into French instrument vocabulary.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s trumpet "a brass wind instrument with a bright tone", settled as the English word for the brass wind instrument.