car|il|lon

car|il|lon «KAR uh lon, -luhn; kuh RIHL yuhn», noun, verb, -lonned, -lon|ning.

–n.

1. a set of bells arranged for playing melodies. The bells are played upon with hammers, either by hand or by a keyboard or other mechanism.

2. a melody played on such bells.

3. a) a part of an organ imitating the sound of bells. b) a musical instrument consisting of a set of metal plates arranged horizontally on a frame and played by striking with hammers.

4. a bell tower.

–v.i.

to play a carillon.

╂[< French carillon < Old French quarellon set of four, ultimately < Latin quattuor four (because it originally consisted of four bells)]