Also 9 -tett. [a. F. quintette, ad. It. quintetto: see next.]
1. Mus. A composition for five voices or instruments. Also attrib.
1811. L. M. Hawkins, C’tess & Gertr., II. 67. One of the quartet and quintet gentlemen.
1864. Home News, 19 Dec., 21/1. The quintette … which forms the first finale.
1880. Academy, 13 Nov., 356. Arranged … as a quintet for strings.
2. a. Mus. A set of five singers or players. b. A set of five persons or things.
1882. Daily News, 8 June, 2/5. The Ascot Derby Stakes, for which a quintette came to the post.
1893. Chicago Advance, 7 Sept. A remarkable quintet surely, to have lived in the same generation.
3. A cycle for five riders; a quintuplet. (Cf. QUINT3.) Also attrib.
1896. Westm. Gaz., 28 Oct., 7/2. We are threatened with a ‘quintet’ match,… but we would rather be spared the sight of two quintets racing neck and neck round a bend!
1898. Daily News, 30 June, 4/5. During a cycle race … one of the handle bars of a quintette ridden by pacers broke.
