[Harp-L] bastringue

["Mox GOWLAND" <mox.g@xxxxxxxxx>]

Winslow wrote:

As to the player-piano bastringue, it appears to be a late 19th century or early 20th century invention. The origin of the word bastringue is unknown, and it has several meanings, so I can't help wondering whether the word already existed and was applied to the instrument, or the other way around.

Glenn & Winslow,

According to the French dictionary 'Le Robert' :


Mots français d'origine néerlandaise

bastringue         bas drinken         1799        n         amusement

(Ben or Ludo will correct me but,
 I think that 'bas drinken' translates from the Dutch as 'to drink a lot'!)

Originally a place to dance

Later meanings were :
an early industrial machine 
a noisy vulgar orchestra
a bordello

all these uses are related to 'loud noises'

In modern French slang it describes a honky-tonk piano

hope this helps
         


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