national anthemn.
/ˌnaʃn̩(ə)l ˈanθəm/, /ˌnaʃən(ə)l ˈanθəm/, U.S. /ˌnæʃən(ə)l ˈænθ(ə)m/, /ˌnæʃn(ə)l ˈænθ(ə)m/ A song or hymn adopted by a nation to express patriotism or national identity, and sung or played on official occasions. Also in extended use.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > types of song > [noun] > national or patriotic song
Rule Britanniac1745
anthem1753
Yankee Doodle1768
Marseillaise hymn1794
national anthem1804
star-spangled banner1814
queen1898
Volkslied1898
Hatikvah1905
king1932
Horst Wessel song1937
1804 Bath Chron. 12 July 4/3 An appropriate discourse was delivered by the curate and chaplain (Rev. Mr. Hughes, late curate of Yarmouth), who concluded thus, ‘Let us now terminate the duties of the day by singing in general chorus the national anthem of God save the King’; which was executed by one of the largest congregations ever seen at Southwold church.
1837 J. G. Lockhart Mem. Life Scott (1839) I. 305 Drowning the National Anthem in howls and hootings.
1876 G. E. Voyle & G. de Saint-Clair-Stevenson Mil. Dict. (ed. 3) 269/1 The playing of the national anthem is only due to those personages who are entitled, under the regulations, to a royal salute.
1894 W. S. Gilbert His Excellency i. 22 With composure polite he endures day and night That illiterate National Anthem!
1971 Black Scholar Jan. 25/2 [James Weldon Johnson's] poem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, was put to music..and became famous as the Negro national anthem.
1993 N.Y. Times 8 June a4/2 Japan's unofficial national anthem, a paean to the Emperor, will not be played, and the guests will not shout the three traditional cheers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1804