Etymology and origin of the French word tuba
tuba1 brass instrument
Pronunciation
- /ty.ba/[1]
Forms
tuba m (plural tubas)[1]
Etymology
The word for the brass instrument is borrowed from Latin tuba (“trumpet”), probably through Italian tuba.[2][3][4] The Grand Robert and the Petit Robert date the modern instrument's name to the late 19th century and derive it from the compound basse-tuba or basse-tube (1849), after German Bass-tuba.[5][6] Rey dates the second form to 1772 and calls it a calque of the German word;[2] the BHVF finds the first form in Berlioz in 1843.[7]
The Latin word named a straight trumpet, as opposed to the curved cornū and lituus;[2] Rey suggests that it may be an old collective of tubus (“tube”), and calls its origin uncertain.[2] It had earlier given Old French tube (“trumpet”), recorded in the first half of the 12th century.[4][2]
Earliest recorded meaning
Rousseau used it in 1767 for a straight military horn of the Romans, with a conical bore.[4][2]
Semantic evolution
The Roman sense has gone out of use.[2] From 1846 tuba names a very large modern brass instrument of the saxhorn family, with three valves and a deep sound.[4][2] By metonymy it also names the player, a use that competes with the rare tubiste (1907).[2]
Timeline
- 1767 – Rousseau uses tuba for a Roman military horn.[4][2]
- 1843 – Basse-tuba is found in Berlioz.[7]
- 1846 – The Revue musicale uses it for the modern brass instrument.[4][7]
- 1849 – Basse-tuba and basse-tube are recorded.[5][6]
- 1907 – The derivative tubiste “tuba player” appears.[2]
Meanings
Noun
- (music) A tuba, a large brass instrument with valves and a conical bore, the bass of the saxhorn family.[4][6]
- (by metonymy) A tuba player.[2]
- (history) A straight Roman military horn.[4]
Word family
- tubiste
tuba2 snorkel
Pronunciation
- /ty.ba/[1]
Forms
tuba m (plural tubas)[1]
Etymology
The word for the snorkel is borrowed from Latin tuba (“trumpet”) again, borrowed in the middle of the 20th century.[5][6][4] Rey describes it as a new borrowing of the Latin word, taken in the sense of a tube.[2]
Earliest recorded meaning
It is first recorded in 1952, in Gruss, for a breathing tube that lets a swimmer keep the head under water.[4][2]
Timeline
- 1952 – First record, in Gruss, of the sense “breathing tube for swimming”.[4][2]
- 1964 – The Larousse records the sense.[3]
Meanings
Noun
Related words
References
- ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Rey, Alain, ed. (1992), Dictionnaire historique de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c Guilbert, Louis; Lagane, René; Niobey, Georges, eds. (1971–1978; 1989), Grand Larousse de la langue française, Paris: Larousse
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Trésor de la langue française informatisé (2004), ATILF – CNRS & Université de Lorraine, atilf.fr/tlfi; electronic version of Imbs, Paul; Quemada, Bernard, eds. (1971–1994), Trésor de la langue française, Paris: CNRS / Gallimard
- ^ a b c Rey, Alain, ed. (2005), Le Grand Robert de la langue française, electronic version, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c d e Rey-Debove, Josette; Rey, Alain, eds. (2007), Le Petit Robert de la langue française, Paris: Le Robert
- ^ a b c Quemada, Bernard, ed. (1959–2006), Datations et documents lexicographiques (Base historique du vocabulaire français, BHVF), Paris: Klincksieck / CNRS / Champion; ATILF
Related etymologies
Cite this entry
“Tuba.” Etymologically, 15 Nov. 2026, etymologically.com/fr/tuba. Accessed 15 Nov. 2026.
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