Obs. Also 5 bemole, 7 beemol. [a. Fr. Bemol (med.L. B mollis) ‘softened B.’ In the harmonic system of Guido of Arezzo, which divided the scale into hexachords beginning from every G, C, and F, it was found necessary in the hexachord which started on F to introduce an additional note a semitone lower than B, which note was called B mollis, or Bemol; this was written in the old literal notation as a rounded b, a sign afterwards corrupted into ♭: see B II. 1.]
1. Name given to B♭, when that note was first introduced into the scale.
a. 1327. Rel. Ant., I. 292. Thu holdest nowt a note … in riht ton … Thu bitist a-sonder bequarre, for bemol i the blame.
1387. Trevisa, Higden, Rolls Ser. I. 355. [In their harp-playing they] bygynneþ from bemol [L. a B molli incipiunt).
a. 1529. Skelton, P. Sparow, 530. Synge the verse, Libera me, In de, la, soll, re, Softly bemole for my sparowes soule.
2. By extension: a. A fiat.
1609. Douland, Ornithop. Microl., 6. of Voyces, some are called b Mols, Naturals, Sharps.
1656. [see 2 b].
b. A semitone.
1626. Bacon, Sylva, § 104. There be intervenient in the Rise of Eight (in Tones) two Beemolls, or Half-notes. Ibid., § 105. There fall out to be two Beemols between the Vnison and the Diapason.
[1656. Blount, Glossogr., Beemol (Fr.), the flat key in musick. Bacon.]
