SERPENT, a musical instrument, serving as a bass to the cornet, or small sbatom, to sustain a chorus of singers in a large edifice. It has its name serpent from its figure, as consisting of several folds or wreaths, which serve to reduce its length, which would otherwise be six or seven feet.
It is usually covered with leather, and consists of three parts, a mouth-piece, a neck, and a tail. It has six holes, by means whereof it takes in the compass of two octaves.
Mersennus, who has particularly described this instrument, mentions some peculiar properties of it, e. gr. that the sound of it is strong enough to drown 20 robust voices, being animated merely by the breath of a boy, and yet the sound of it may be attempered to the softness of the sweetest voice. Another peculiarity of this instrument is, that great as the distance between the third and fourth hole appears, yet whether the third hole be open or shut, the difference is but a tone.