Trombone
a large, deep, and loudtoned instrument of the trumpet kind, the name being an augmentative of tromba, a trumpet. It consists of two tubes, so constructed that one may slide in and out of the other, and thus form TRRONDHJEM one tube that can be lengthened at will and made of varying pitch. There are three kinds of trombones, called after their compass the alto, tenor, and bass trombones. Soprano trombones have also been made, but they are rarely used.
The alto trombone has a compass of more than two octaves and a half, and is also known as the trombone in E flat.
It is written on the c clef, third line.
The tenor trombone is also known as the trombone in B flat. It is written on the c clef, fourth line. The bass trombone is the lowest of all in its range of notes, and is known as the E flat. It is written on the F clef; is an octave lower than the alto, and a fifth lower than the tenor.
Some of these instruments are fitted with pistons, whence they are called valve trombones. Also a powerful reed stop in the organ, of 8 feet or 16 feet scale on the manuals and 16 feet or 32 feet on the pedals. In ordnance, a form of blunderbuss for boat service.