Quint

Quint [Lat. quintus, fifth], 1. (Ger.) in the 16th and 17th c. the highest string of the lute, etc., regardless of whether the instr. had 5 or 6 strings. When the sixth string was added (in the bass), the top string retained its old name. The word is an abbr. of Quintsaite and corresponds in this sense to chanterelle; 2. prefix given to members of certain instrumental families pitched a 5th above or a 5th below the type instr., e.g., Quintfagott; 3. (Fr.: quinte; Ger.: Quinte; It.: quinta), the…