Cornet

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kɔɹˈnɛt/

Definitions

1. A brass wind instrument similar to a trumpet but with a more compact shape ; a junior officer rank in cavalry or armored units, equivalent to a second lieutenant
2. A curved brass instrument known for its mellow tone, often used in brass bands ; a low-ranking commissioned officer title traditionally used in cavalry
3. A brass horn resembling a trumpet used in military and brass band music ; an entry-level officer rank in certain military branches, especially cavalry

Etymology: The instrument and the officer share one ancestor: the Latin "cornū", meaning "horn". Old French formed "cornet" as a diminutive of a popular reflex of that word, so a cornet is literally a little horn. The name was first applied to a wind instrument, and the brass cornet that later appeared in military and brass band music kept it, sounding much like a trumpet but with a shorter, more conical bore. The military rank took a separate route. A cornet was a cavalry officer's standard-bearer, and the name travels through Middle French "cornette", a diminutive of "corne" from Latin "cornua" ("horns"). The flag-bearer's pennant was named for its swallowtail shape, which resembled a horn's tip, so the rank and the instrument both come from a single image: something that tapers to a point like a horn.

Synonyms: trumpet, brass instrument, horn