Superior Person's Tuesday!

Sackbut n. A medieval instrument, not unlike a trombone. The term is derived from an old French world for a hook used to pull a man off a horse. Make what you will of this.

In recent years, the sackbut has become very popular at lavish New York dinner parties.

Each Tuesday, we’ll offer up a Superior Word for the edification of our Superior Readers, via the volumes of the inimitable Peter Bowler. You can purchase all or any of the four Superior Person’s Books of Words from the Godine website. Sackbut appears in the Second.