sackbut

noun

sack·​but ˈsak-(ˌ)bət How to pronounce sackbut (audio)
: the medieval and Renaissance trombone

Examples of sackbut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Cue the valveless trumpets, natural horns, and sackbuts: The Boston Early Music Festival is back. —Jeremy Eichler, BostonGlobe.com, 19 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle French saqueboute hooked lance, sackbut, from saquer to pull + boter to push — more at butt entry 3

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sackbut was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near sackbut

sack borer

sackbut

sackcloth

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Sackbut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sackbut. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on sackbut

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sackbut

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

10 Scrabble Words Without Any Vowels
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
silhouette of a man with a megaphone against a british flag
Another Great British Vocabulary Quiz, Innit? A double-decker quiz with words from across the pond