alpenhorn

noun

al·​pen·​horn ˈal-pən-ˌhȯrn How to pronounce alpenhorn (audio)
variants or alphorn
: a straight wooden horn 5 to 14 feet (about 1.5 to 4.3 meters) in length used chiefly by Swiss herdsmen

Illustration of alpenhorn

Illustration of alpenhorn

Examples of alpenhorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Because nothing says Americana like a man in lederhosen honkin’ on an alpenhorn. Jon Freeman, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alpenhorn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

German, from Alpen + Horn horn

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of alpenhorn was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near alpenhorn

Cite this Entry

“Alpenhorn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alpenhorn. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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