(Often as two words.)
1. A musical instrument played by means of ‘wind’ (WIND sb.1 12), supplied either by the breath of the player or by bellows: most commonly applied to portable instruments of this kind, such as those used in an orchestra.
Strictly, one whose sounds are produced by vibration of air in a pipe or tube (as the flute, trumpet, etc.) or in a number of pipes (as the organ); but usually also including those sounding by vibration of reeds (as the clarinet, harmonium, and concertina).
1582. N. Lichefield, trans. Castanheda’s Conq. E. Ind., I. lxxvi. 155. He had also with him certeine wind instruments.
1628. Ford, Lover’s Mel., I. ii. Cucul. Was thy father a Piper, saist thou? Grill. A sounder of some such wind-instrument forsooth.
1777. Thicknesse, Journ. France (1789), II. 202. During the supper, a good band of music played; but it was all wind instruments.
1838. Dickens, Nich. Nick., ii. Two or three violins and a wind instrument from the Opera band.
1880. F. Taylor, in Grove, Dict. Mus., II. 5/2. The Harmonium although played by wind, is not strictly a wind-instrument.
Comb. 1776. Hawkins, Hist. Mus., V. IV. vii. 364. The younger Stanesby, the wind-instrument-maker.
b. fig. or allusively.
1604. Shaks., Oth., III. i. 8. Are these I pray you, winde Instruments?
1634. S. R., Noble Soldier, IV. i. F 3. Bal. What Instrument playd she upon? Cor. A wind instrument, she did nothing but sigh.
† 2. A machine or contrivance driven by the wind, as a windmill. Obs. rare.
1601. Holland, Pliny, VII. xxxvii. I. 175. Ctesibius also was much accounted of for devising wind-instruments: and by the meanes of certaine engines to draw and send water to any place.
Hence Wind-instrumental a.; Wind-instrumentalist.
1869. J. Ella, Mus. Sk., I. 344. I know of no other example of wind-instrumentalists acquiring an independance by orchestral employment in London.
1894. J. A. Kappey (title), Military Music. A history of wind-instrumental bands.
