Zinke
/ˈzɪŋkə/noun
A historical wind instrument of the Renaissance and Baroque periods, usually made of wood or ivory and played with a cup-shaped mouthpiece.
Did you know?The zinke, also called the cornett, was commonly used in Renaissance church and civic music, where its piercing tone could imitate or blend with human voices.
Etymological Timeline
Old High German
OHG
zinko
“A point, prong, or tooth-like projection”
Middle High German
MHG
zinke
“A point, tine, tooth, or horn-like projection”
15th–16th Century
German
Zink
“A pointed wind instrument made from wood, bone, or ivory”
16th Century
Italian
cornetto
“Small horn; the Italian name for the same instrument”
16th–17th Century
English
zink / zinke
“A Renaissance wind instrument with a curved, horn-like body”
Modern English
English
zinke
“An archaic or variant name for the historical cornett”