BOMBARD (derived through Med.

See also:

• LAT

Lat. and Fr. forms from Gr. (3oµ(3eiv, to make a humming

See also:

• NOISE (a word of doubtful origin; O. Fr. nogse or nose; Prov. nausa, which points to Lat. nausea, sickness, as the origin; others take Lat. noxia, harm, as the source)

noise)  , a term applied in the middle ages to a sort of cannon, used chiefly in sieges, and throwing heavy stone balls; hence the later use as a verb (see BOMBARDMENT) . The name, in various forms, was also given to a medieval musical instrument (" bombard," " bumhart," " pumhart," " pommer "), the forerunner of the bass oboe or schalmey . At the present day a small primitive oboe called bombarde, with eight holes but no keys, is used among the Breton peasants .