/ ˈkɒntrəbeɪs; NAmE ˈkɑːn-/ adjective
( of a musical instrument ) with a range of notes one octave below that of a bass instrument :
a contrabass clarinet
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WORD ORIGIN
late 18th cent.: from Italian contrabasso , from contra- pitched an octave below + basso , from Latin basis base, pedestal, from Greek .