bourdon

UK: /ˈbʊəd^ən/, /ˈbɔːd^ən/ US: (bŏŏr′dn, bôr′-, bōr′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

bour•don  (bŏŏr′dn, bôr′-, bōr′-), n. [Music.]

1. Music and Dance
   • the drone pipe of a bagpipe.
   • the drone string of a stringed instrument.
2. Music and Dance a low-pitched tone;
   bass.
3. Music and Dance a pipe organ stop of very low pitch.
4. Music and Dance the bell in a carillon having the lowest pitch.

• Middle French; see burden²
• Middle English 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

bourdon / ˈbʊəd^ən ˈbɔːd^ən/ noun

1. a 16-foot organ stop of the stopped diapason type
2. the drone of a bagpipe
3. a drone or pedal point in the bass of a harmonized melody

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French: drone (of a musical instrument), of imitative origin