sb. Obs. Also 4 symphayne, -fan, 5 synphane, -fan, sinfon, simphan(n)e, 6 cymphan. [a. OF. *simphaine, semphaine, var. of simphoine, earlier cinfonie, cifonie, siphonie, ad. L. symphōnia SYMPHONY; the majority of the Eng. forms show assimilation in the final syllable to TYMPAN.] = SYMPHONY 1.

1

1303.  R. Brunne, Handl. Synne, 4769. As Dauyd seyþ yn þe sautere, ‘Yn harpe, yn thabour, and symphan gle, Wurschepe God.’ Ibid. (c. 1330), Chron. Wace (Rolls), 11387. Harpes, pypes, & tabours,… Belles, chymbes, & symfan.

2

1435.  Misyn, Fire of Love, II. ii. 72. His prayars he sall synge with a gostly synphane.

3

1509.  Hawes, Past. Pleas., XVI. xi. (Percy Soc.), 61. There sat dame Musyke, with all her mynstrasy; As tabours, trumpettes,… Sakbuttes, organs,… Harpes, lutes,… Cymphans, doussemers.

4

  Hence † Symphan v. intr., to play on a ‘symphan.’

5

1483.  Cath. Angl., 340/1. To Synfan, simphonizare.

6