a. and sb. Also erron. -ent. [ad. tremulānt-em, pr. pple. of late L. tremulāre to TREMBLE; in B. 2 repr. It. tremolante in same sense.]
A. adj. Tremulous; trembling.
1837. Carlyle, Fr. Rev., I. V. ii. Hapless De Brézé; doomed to survive long ages, in men’s memory, in this faint way, with tremulent white rod.
1884. Pall Mall G., 8 July, 4/2. The Queen of the Opera can sing clean and firm, and with a touch of tremulant emotion, only just when and where it is wanted.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med. VI. 516. The muscular contractions which execute willed movements are themselves found … to be often slightly tremulant.
B. sb. Mus. 1. = TREMOLO 2.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 3411, 9. Tremulant to swell.
1876. Hiles, Catech. Organ, iii. (1878), 20. A Tremulant is a contrivance that gives to the tone of any department of an Organ to which it may be applied, a waving, or undulating effect.
1903. Westm. Gaz., 26 March, 8/1. The largest organ in the world is being built … for the St. Louis Exhibition of 1904…. There are to be ninety-nine mechanical appliances, thirty-six couplers, five tremulants, and forty-eight adjustable pistons.
2. = TREMOLO 1.
1884. Pall Mall G., 30 April, 4/1. We strongly recommend Mesdames Durand and Laterner to subdue the tremulant in their voices.
