[L. and It. tuba.]
1. (pl. tubæ.) The straight bronze war-trumpet of the ancient Romans.
1882. Athenæum, 8 April, 452/1. Two other musicians blow long straight trumpets, exactly like the Roman tuba.
1890. E. B. Custer, Following Guidon, Pref. 9. The tuba … was a kind of straight bronze clarion, about thirty-nine inches long.
2. Mus. (pl. tubas.) A bass wind-instrument of the sax-horn family; a sax-tuba or bombardon; cf. SAX-HORN; also, one who plays this instrument.
1852. Crystal Palace, 285/1. The Sax-horns in alto, soprano, tenor, tuba, bass, &c.
1888. Pall Mall G., 10 Dec., 4/2. Three trombones and a tuba have … a free run for their money. Ibid. (1889), 13 July, 3/1. In ‘Otello’ Verdi … has written important parts for piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet, a third bassoon, two cornets, and a tuba.
1889. W. H. Stone, in Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 184/1. Tubas are made in many keys, in F in Germany, in E♭ and B♭ in this country.
1909. Punch, 20 Jan., 38/2. A … nonagenarian with a voice like a bass tuba.
b. An 8-foot high-pressure reed-stop in an organ.
1876. Hiles, Catech. Organ, x. (1878), 72. Tuba, Tuba Mirabilis, Ophicleide—a Trumpet stop (striking reed) of large scale and on a high pressure of wind.
1889. Sir J. Stainer, in Grove, Dict. Mus., IV. 184/1. The Tuba is not solely used as a Solo stop.
1907. Westm. Gaz., 24 Aug., 15/3. The organ … soared and swelled…, a crash of trumpet and tuba that left a vibrant humming in the air.
