octobass

English

Etymology

From octo- +‎ bass. (This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium. Particularly: “Why octo-? What are there eight of?”) The name "octobass" comes from "octo-" meaning "eight" in Latin and "-bass", which is general name for any bass instrument (like "double bass", "contrabass" etc.). "Octo" is used because its range extending more than an octave below that of the double bass - it is tuned to A0, compared to the C1 that a double bass can stretch to, which makes octobass the lowest chordophone ever created.

Noun

An octobass.

octobass (plural octobasses)

1. (music) A very large double bass requiring two musicians, one to finger and one to bow.

Derived terms

• octobassist

Translations

large double bass

• Afrikaans: oktobas
• Italian: ottobasso (it) m
• Polish: oktobas (pl) m

See also

• Appendix:Glossary of chordophones