dolcian

noun

dol·​ci·​an

ˈdälsēən,

ˈdōl-,

ˈdȯl-

variants or dulcian

ˈdəl-

or less commonly dolcino

dōlˈchē(ˌ)nō

plural -s

1

: a small musical instrument sounding like a bassoon and used in the 16th and 17th centuries

2

or less commonly dulzian

ˈdəlzēən

: a pipe-organ stop sounding like a bassoon

Word History

Etymology

dolcian, dulcian alteration of dulciana; dolcino from Italian, modification of Medieval Latin dulciana

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!