† symphan, n. Obs.
Also 4 symphayne, -fan, 5 synphane, -fan, sinfon, simphan(n)e, 6 cymphan.
[a. OF. *simphaine, semphaine, var. of simphoine, earlier cinfonie, cifonie, siphonie, ad. L. symphōnia symphony; the majority of the Eng. forms show assimilation in the final syllable to tympan.]
= symphony 1.
| 1303 R. Brunne Handl. Synne 4769 As Dauyd seyþ yn þe sautere, ‘Yn harpe, yn thabour, and symphan gle, Wurschepe God.’ c 1330 ― Chron. Wace (Rolls) 11387 Harpes, pypes, & tabours,..Belles, chymbes, & symfan. 1435 Misyn Fire of Love ii. ii. 72 His prayars he sall synge with a gostly synphane. 1509 Hawes Past. Pleas. xvi. xi. (Percy Soc.) 61 There sat dame Musyke, with all her mynstrasy; As tabours, trumpettes,..Sakbuttes, organs,..Harpes, lutes,..Cymphans, doussemers. |
Hence † symphan v. intr., to play on a ‘symphan’.
| 1483 Cath. Angl. 340/1 To Synfan, simphonizare. |