hautboy

The term "hautboy" is an older name for the oboe, a treble woodwind instrument with a conical bore and a double reed. The name "hautbois" comes from French, meaning "high wood," referring to its loud sound.123

Originally, the hautbois was a louder instrument used for outdoor ceremonies, evolving from the shawm. By the mid-17th century, French musicians developed a softer version for indoor playing with stringed instruments, which became the orchestral oboe. This instrument was a principal wind instrument in orchestras and military bands by the end of the 17th century.1

The oboe has undergone improvements over time, with more keys added and the development of different reed types and instrument sizes, such as the English horn and the oboe d'amore. A player of the hautbois is called a hautboist.14