Buccina
/ˈbʊk.sɪ.nə/noun
An ancient Roman curved horn or trumpet used for military and ceremonial signals.
Did you know?The buccina’s name is tied to Latin *bucca* (“cheek”), likely because it was a wind instrument blown with puffed cheeks — a rare case where the body itself is built into the word.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*bʰewk-
“To swell, puff up, or blow”
Latin
Latin
bucca
“Cheek; mouth; puffed-out cheek”
Classical Latin
Latin
buccina
“A horn or trumpet, especially a curved Roman signal horn”
Late Latin
Latin
buccīna
“A trumpet, horn, or signal instrument”
English
English
buccina
“A Roman trumpet or horn used for military signals”
Explore more surprising origins