Flageolets

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of small, wooden or metal flute that is characterized by its high, piercing sound and is typically played in ensembles
2. A woodwind instrument often used in folk music, recognized for its distinct tonal quality and ease of play
3. A musical instrument resembling a small flute, commonly employed in various musical genres for its unique melodic contributions

Etymology: "Flageolets" is the plural of "flageolet," a small woodwind instrument, and the singular was borrowed from French, where it carries the same sense. The French word is a diminutive, so the instrument's name is essentially "little flute" in its native language, a modest label for a pipe with a whistle-like mouthpiece. The word entered English as a loan from French, which is why it keeps its French spelling and its final "-et" ending. Plural forms in English use the French-style "-s" ending here, giving "flageolets" for more than one instrument.

Synonyms: woodwind instruments, flutes