Where does “oboe” come from?
Oboe comes from French hautbois, from French haut and French bois, ultimately from Latin altus and Frankish busk, tracing back through Latin altus.
oboe (English): A soprano and melody wind instrument in the...
Definitions
- A soprano and melody wind instrument in the...
Ancestry of “oboe”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italian | oboè | Obsolete form of oboe; oboe |
| 2 | French | hautbois | oboe; oboist |
| 3 | French | haut | high; tall; top |
| 4 | Middle French | hault | high; high up; high; elevated |
| 5 | Old French | hault | high, lofty; high, tall, elevated |
| 6 | Latin | altus | high, tall; deep; profound |
| 7 | Proto-Italic | altos | — |
| 8 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂eltós | — |
| 9 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂él- | to grow, nourish |