ranz des vaches
English
Etymology
From (Swiss) French ranz des vaches.
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA(key): /ˈɹɒ̃(s)deɪvaʃ/
- (US) IPA(key): /ˈɹɑ̃(s)deɪvəʃ/
Noun
ranz des vaches (plural ranz des vaches)
- (music) Any of numerous traditional Swiss melodies played on the alpenhorn, originally to call cows in from the mountains. [from 18th c.]
- 1972, William F. Mainland, translating Friedrich Schiller, Wilhelm Tell, II.1:
- The herald cries his summons to the lists,
- But no sound comes to these sequestered valleys;
- I only hear the melancholy note
- Of cowbells and the dreary ranz des vaches.
- 1972, William F. Mainland, translating Friedrich Schiller, Wilhelm Tell, II.1:
French
Etymology
From Swiss variant of rang (“rank”) + des + vaches, after dialectal German Kuhreihen (with second element Reihen (“dance”) misinterpreted at Reihe (“row”)).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ʁɑ̃ de vaʃ/, /ʁɑ̃s de vaʃ/
Noun
ranz des vaches m (plural ranz des vaches)
- (music) ranz des vaches