chalumeau

Borrowed from French chalumeau, from Late Latin calamellus, diminutive of Latin calamus (“reed”), from Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos, “reed”). Doublet of shawm and probably caramel.

• IPA^(key): /ˌʃælʊˈməʊ/

chalumeau (plural chalumeaus or chalumeaux)

1. (music) A woodwind instrument which was the predecessor of the clarinet.
2. The lowest range of the clarinet, reaching up to written B♭ (B flat) above middle C.

From Old French chalemel, from Late Latin calamellus, diminutive of Latin calamus (“reed”), from Ancient Greek κάλαμος (kálamos, “reed”).

• IPA^(key): /ʃa.ly.mo/

chalumeau m (plural chalumeaux)

1. blowtorch
2. (music) chalumeau

• chaume

• “chalumeau” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).