Defn: With the corner in front; diagonally; not square.
CORNET
Cor"net (kr"nt), n. Etym: [F. cornet, m. (for senses 1 & 2),
cornette, f. & m. (for senses 3 & 4), dim. of corne horn, L. cornu.
See Horn.]
1. (Mus.) (a) An obsolete rude reed instrument (Ger. Zinken), of the oboe family. (b) A brass instrument, with cupped mouthpiece, and furnished with valves or pistons, now used in bands, and, in place of the trumpet, in orchestras. See Cornet-à-piston. (c) A certain organ stop or register.
2. A cap of paper twisted at the end, used by retailers to inclose small wares. Cotgrave.
3. (Mil.) (a) A troop of cavalry; — so called from its being accompanied by a cornet player. [Obs.] "A body of five cornets of horse." Clarendon. (b) The standard of such a troop. [Obs.] (c) The lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, who carried the standard. The office was abolished in 1871.
4. A headdress: (a) A square cap anciently worn as a mark of certain professions. (b) A part of a woman's headdress, in the 16th century.
5. Etym: [Cf. Coronet.] (Far.)
Defn: See Coronet, 2.
CORNET-A-PISTON Cor"net-à-pis`ton (kr"nt—ps"tn; F. kr`n`ps`tn"), n.; pl. Cornets-à- piston. Etym: [F.] (Mus.)
Defn: A brass wind instrument, like the trumpet, furnished with valves moved by small pistons or sliding rods; a cornopean; a cornet.