Definitions
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The harsh and startling sound produced when a clarinet is unskilfully blown or its reed is out of order.
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Support
Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word couac.
Examples
-
--- In English, this type of “canard”/“couac” is quite simply 'a wrong note '... with no duck involved!
-
--- “Faire un canard”, in music = faire une fausse note, un son discordant, = faire “un couac”!
-
The word "liberty" rolled like the bass-drum, "public interests" and "welfare of the State" clanged discordantly like the cymbals, and when the comedian spoke of his "patriotism" I almost heard the _couac_ of a clarionet.
Ten Tales Fran��ois Copp��e 1875
-
I can't think of an English equivalent to “faire un canard” or “faire un couac”, (a bum note?
ry commented on the word couac
I have fond(ish) memories of producing this sound, back in the fifth grade.
also: not listed?!
May 15, 2013