BOMBARD

French Bombarde, German Pumhart, or Pommer, double-reed wind instrument belonging to the shawm family; its name is derived from a piece of artillery of the 14th century. By the 16th century shawms were constructed in all sizes, ranging from sopranino to double bass. Although the higher-pitched instruments retained the name shawm, the lower-pitched versions became known as bombards. In Brittany, the bombard is played in duet with a bagpipe.