trumpet

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A brass musical instrument that you play by blowing into it, making a bright, high sound.

   He learned to play the trumpet in the school band.

2. 2
   verb

   To announce something loudly and proudly.

   The company trumpeted its record profits in every newspaper.

3. 3
   noun

   The loud cry made by an elephant.

   The large bull gave a deep trumpet as he charged.

From Middle English trumpet, trumpette, trompette (“trumpet”), from Old French trompette (“trumpet”), diminutive of trompe (“horn, trump, trumpet”), from Frankish *trumpa, *trumba (“trumpet”), ultimately imitative. Cognate with Old High German trumpa, trumba (“horn, trumpet”), Middle Dutch tromme (“drum”), Middle Low German trumme (“drum”), Old Norse trumba (“pipe; trumpet”). More at drum. Displaced native English beme, from Middle English beme, from Old English bīeme.

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