bourdon

bourdon [boo r-dn, bawr-, bohr-] ExamplesWord Origin noun Music.

1. 1. the drone pipe of a bagpipe.
   2. the drone string of a stringed instrument.
2. a low-pitched tone; bass.
3. a pipe organ stop of very low pitch.
4. the bell in a carillon having the lowest pitch.

Origin of bourdon 1350–1400; Middle English Middle French; see burden2 Examples from the Web for bourdon Historical Examples of bourdon

The dim roar of London was like the bourdon note of a distant organ.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Oscar Wilde

“Bourdon, arm all batteries and lock onto that Mancji ship,” I ordered.

Greylorn

John Keith Laumer

He manages a canoe well, when himself; so go, Bourdon, while you can.

Oak Openings

James Fenimore Cooper

“Let me know the truth, at once, Chippewa,” exclaimed le Bourdon.

Oak Openings

James Fenimore Cooper

At length le Bourdon paused, causing his companion to stop also.

Oak Openings

James Fenimore Cooper

British Dictionary definitions for bourdon bourdon noun

1. a 16-foot organ stop of the stopped diapason type
2. the drone of a bagpipe
3. a drone or pedal point in the bass of a harmonized melody

Word Origin for bourdon C14: from Old French: drone (of a musical instrument), of imitative origin