† gamme Mus. Obs.
Also 5–7 gam.
[a. F. gamme, ad. It. and med.L. gamma, a. Gr. gamma, the letter Γ, used as the symbol of the lowest note in the mediæval scale.]
= gamut.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 90 Now highe notis and now lowe, As by the gamme a man may knowe. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 185/2 Gamme of song, gamma. c 1470 Burlesque in Rel. Ant. I. 86 The goos gagult ever more, the gam was better to here. 1597 Morley Introd. Mus. 2 Here is the Scale of Musicke, which wee terme the Gam. 1669 Cokaine Poems, Elegie T. Pilkington 78 Yet he at Gamut frequent was, and taught Many to play, till Death set his Gam out. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Gammut, or Gamm. 1730–6 Bailey (folio), Gam, the first or gravest note in the modern scale of musick. |