cornet

1 of 2

noun (1)

cor·​net kȯr-ˈnet How to pronounce cornet (audio)
 British usually  ˈkȯ-nit
1
: a valved brass instrument resembling a trumpet in design and range but having a shorter partly conical tube and less brilliant tone
2
: something shaped like a cone: such as
a
: a piece of paper twisted for use as a container
b
: a cone-shaped pastry shell that is often filled with whipped cream
c
British : an ice-cream cone
cornetist noun
or cornettist
kȯr-ˈne-tist How to pronounce cornet (audio)
 British usually  ˈkȯ-ni-tist

cornet

2 of 2

noun (2)

1
: the standard of a cavalry troop
2
a
: the onetime fifth grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop who carried the standard
b
: the onetime lowest commissioned rank in the U.S. cavalry

Did you know?

Like the trumpet, the cornet is a brass instrument with three valves, but its bore is somewhat more conical. Its range parallels that of the trumpet. It evolved in the 1820s, and its agility made it a very popular solo instrument. It often displaced the trumpet in 19th-century orchestras, and it preceded the trumpet in modern dance and jazz bands. Recent developments have made the two instruments very similar, and the cornet's popularity has waned considerably as a result.

Examples of cornet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Soloist Pacho Flores strode on stage in front of the San Diego Symphony, perilously carrying two trumpets and a cornet. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2024 Was having the cornet player there that night in Philly unusual? Chris Willman, Variety, 26 Nov. 2023 Pacho Flores was the agile trumpeter, solid in tone throughout his range, brilliant on the cornet and mellow on the flugelhorn. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2023 Bands in the 19th century had a wide range of formats and instrumentation, but all-brass ensembles were very common and often known as cornet bands. Catherine Baty, Baltimore Sun, 7 July 2023 Calling it a trumpet concerto is perhaps a misnomer: the soloist probably spends more time on cornets or flugelhorn than on the trumpet. Christian Hertzog, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2023 Many of the city’s most interesting artists are peppered through the record, from Ben Lamar Gay on cornet to Ayanna Woods and Sen Morimoto providing saxophone arrangements. Britt Julious, chicagotribune.com, 27 Aug. 2021 The Creative Music Series presents the A-1 altoist’s coruscating band in a free outdoor concert featuring avant aces Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet), Timo Shanko (bass), and Luther Gray (drums). BostonGlobe.com, 15 July 2021 Her father, Nicholas, ran a tavern and a dance hall and played cornet professionally. Alex Vadukul, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cornet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English cornet, cornette "six-holed wooden wind instrument" (now usually cornett or cornetto), borrowed from Middle French cornet, from corn "horn" (going back to Old French, going back to Latin cornum, cornū) + -et -et entry 1 — more at horn

Noun (2)

borrowed from Middle French cornette "lappet terminating a woman's headdress, pennon, standard of a troop, officer holding the standard," from corne "horn, wimple with horn-like appendages," going back to Latin cornua, plural (taken as singular) of cornū "horn" — more at horn

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cornet was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near cornet

Cite this Entry

“Cornet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornet. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cornet

noun
cor·​net
kȯr-ˈnet
1
: a brass instrument like the trumpet but having a shorter tube and a softer tone
2
: something shaped like a cone
cornetist noun
or cornettist
-ˈnet-əst
Etymology

Noun

Middle English cornet "cornet," from early French cornet, literally, "little horn," from Latin cornu "horn" — related to corn entry 3

More from Merriam-Webster on cornet

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