Trumpet major

Trumpet Trump"et, n. [F. trompette, dim. of trompe. See {Trump} a trumpet.] 1. (Mus.) A wind instrument of great antiquity, much used in war and military exercises, and of great value in the orchestra. In consists of a long metallic tube, curved (once or twice) into a convenient shape, and ending in a bell. Its scale in the lower octaves is limited to the first natural harmonics; but there are modern trumpets capable, by means of valves or pistons, of producing every tone within their compass, although at the expense of the true ringing quality of tone. [1913 Webster]

The trumpet's loud clangor Excites us to arms. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

2. (Mil.) A trumpeter. --Clarendon. [1913 Webster]

3. One who praises, or propagates praise, or is the instrument of propagating it. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

That great politician was pleased to have the greatest wit of those times . . . to be the trumpet of his praises. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]

4. (Mach) A funnel, or short, fiaring pipe, used as a guide or conductor, as for yarn in a knitting machine. [1913 Webster]

{Ear trumpet}. See under {Ear}.

{Sea trumpet} (Bot.), a great seaweed ({Ecklonia buccinalis}) of the Southern Ocean. It has a long, hollow stem, enlarging upwards, which may be made into a kind of trumpet, and is used for many purposes.

{Speaking trumpet}, an instrument for conveying articulate sounds with increased force.

{Trumpet animalcule} (Zo["o]l.), any infusorian belonging to Stentor and allied genera, in which the body is trumpet-shaped. See {Stentor}.

{Trumpet ash} (Bot.), the trumpet creeper. [Eng.]

{Trumpet conch} (Zo["o]l.), a trumpet shell, or triton.

{Trumpet creeper} (Bot.), an American climbing plant ({Tecoma radicans}) bearing clusters of large red trumpet-shaped flowers; -- called also {trumpet flower}, and in England {trumpet ash}.

{Trumpet fish}. (Zo["o]l.) (a) The bellows fish. (b) The fistularia.

{Trumpet flower}. (Bot.) (a) The trumpet creeper; also, its blossom. (b) The trumpet honeysuckle. (c) A West Indian name for several plants with trumpet-shaped flowers.

{Trumpet fly} (Zo["o]l.), a botfly.

{Trumpet honeysuckle} (Bot.), a twining plant ({Lonicera sempervirens}) with red and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers; -- called also {trumpet flower}.

{Trumpet leaf} (Bot.), a name of several plants of the genus {Sarracenia}.

{Trumpet major} (Mil.), the chief trumpeter of a band or regiment.

{Trumpet marine} (Mus.), a monochord, having a thick string, sounded with a bow, and stopped with the thumb so as to produce the harmonic tones; -- said to be the oldest bowed instrument known, and in form the archetype of all others. It probably owes its name to ``its external resemblance to the large speaking trumpet used on board Italian vessels, which is of the same length and tapering shape.'' --Grove.

{Trumpet shell} (Zo["o]l.), any species of large marine univalve shells belonging to Triton and allied genera. See {Triton}, 2.

{Trumpet tree}. (Bot.) See {Trumpetwood}. [1913 Webster]