cornett
1 synonym for cornett, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — An early wind instrument shaped like a horn, used in European music of the medieval, Renaissance and Baroque periods.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
cornetto
How to use cornett
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
play the cornett
cornett player
a Renaissance cornett
It is a specialist term used mainly by musicians and scholars working in early music.
Etymology
Cornett comes from the Old French word cornet, a diminutive form of corne, meaning horn. Corne in turn goes back to the Latin word cornū.
Full origin of cornett →Frequently asked questions
What is a cornett?
A cornett is an early wind instrument shaped like a horn, played in European music from the medieval period through to the Baroque era.
Is a cornett the same as a cornet?
No. A cornett is the older, horn-shaped instrument, while the cornet is a later brass instrument; the two should not be confused despite the similar names.
When was the cornett used?
It was played in medieval, Renaissance and Baroque European music, and today it is mainly heard in early music performances.
