The schoolroom flute called a recorder gets its name from an older sense of record, meaning to sing or repeat a tune. In the 15th century, the verb could describe birds singing, and it also had the sense of practicing a tune. The little block in the mouthpiece that helps make the whistle sound has its own name: a fipple. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Why Is the Flute-Like Musical Instrument Called a “Recorder”?”
Grant, did you ever have a music class in elementary school where you played the recorder?
I know about them, yeah.
A little flute-like instrument.
I think they’ve been heavily mocked in movies, but yeah.
Well, yeah, maybe.
You did this?
Oh, yes.
Okay.
I always thought it was weird that it was called a recorder.
Okay.
Oh, yeah.
Isn’t that strange?
Good question.
So you found the answer.
I did.
I did.
I looked it up.
It turns out that record is an old word for to sing a tune.
Oh, I did not know that.
Yeah, you might refer to birds recording back in the 15th century.
And, you know, it has to do with practicing a tune.
And, you know, how a recorder has that little hole up at the top that you blow into.
And there’s a little block of wood that sort of makes the whistle happen?
That’s called a fipple.
A fipple?
Just in case you need a word for hangman.
Is that a real thing?
That’s a real thing, a fipple.
A fipple.
That’s not a made-up word, not one of those stunty words, right?
I don’t think so.
Oh, that’s really good.
So record actually means to bring to life or bring to memory originally, something like that?
To sing.
I mean, it actually referred to birds singing.
Nice.
Language is interesting.
You should call us and we’ll talk about it.
877-929-9673 or email words@waywordradio.org.
