unisonn.adj.
/ˈjuːnᵻs(ə)n/, /ˈjuːnᵻz(ə)n/, U.S. /ˈjunəsən/, /ˈjunəzən/ A. n.† 3. A single unvaried tone; a monotone. Obsolete. rare.
1. Music and Acoustics.
a. Identity in pitch of two or more sounds or notes; the relation of two notes of the same pitch regarded as a musical interval; the sounding of notes at the same pitch, or at pitches one or more octaves apart, by different voices or instruments together; an instance of this.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > [noun] > same pitch
unisona1450
a1450 Musical Treat. in Speculum (1935) 10 269 (MED) Dyapason þat is proporcio 2la[= dupla], is þe most perfite acorde aftir þe vnisoun.
c1484 (a1475) J. de Caritate tr. Secreta Secret. (Takamiya) (1977) 184 (MED) Þer be v tunys mysical with-owte qwyche þer is no songe consonaunt, that is to sey, an vnyson, a thyrd, a vte, a vjte, and an eght.
1575 G. Gascoigne Posies 190 At Musickes sacred sounde, my fansies eft begonne, In concordes, discordes, notes and cliffes, in tunes of unisonne.
1597 T. Morley Plaine & Easie Introd. Musicke iii. 162 You must haue a care to cause your parts giue place one to another, and aboue all thinges auoide standing in vnisons.
1626 F. Bacon Sylua Syluarum §103 The Diapason or Eight in Music is the sweetest Concord; insomuch as it is in effect an Unison.
1694 W. Holder Treat. Harmony iv. 54 By Unison is meant..the Habitude or Ration of Equality of two Notes compared together, being of the very same Tune.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Octave The most simple Perception the Soul can have of true Sounds, is that of Unison.
1749 J. Mason Ess. Power of Numbers & Princ. Harmony 21 Those [metrical] Feet..are in Proportion of the Unison in Musick... And they are said to answer to the Unison.
1806 J. W. Callcott Musical Gram. ii. i. 90 The Unison,..although it cannot properly be reckoned an Interval, is always considered as such.
1869 F. A. G. Ouseley Treat. Counterpoint xiv. 83 When the number of parts exceeds four, unisons may be used.
1896 W. G. Woolcombe Pract. Work Physics iii. Pref. The nearest approach to unison between two musical notes.
1944 W. Apel Harvard Dict. Music 553/2 Paraphonia denotes, in late Greek and in early medieval theory, the intervals of the fifth and fourth, in contradistinction to symphonia, the unison.
1962 Jrnl. Music Theory 6 296 The long-held final unisons between violin and viola at about 468 cycles per second.
2011 Church Times 18 Mar. 36/4 The Benedictus stood out for some enchanting use of..solo voices during the Osannas, beautifully pared down to a final unison.
b. A sound or note of the same pitch as another or taken as a starting point for measuring an interval; also (in early use): the note used as the base note in contrapuntal singing. Also: = unison string n. at Compounds.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > [noun] > same pitch > note of same pitch
unisona1450
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > interval > [noun] > starting point
unisona1450
a1450 L. Power Treat. on Counterpoint in Speculum (1935) 10 242 (MED) To enforme a childe in his counterpoynt, he most ymagyne his vnisoun þe 8te note fro þe playnsong beneþe.
1574 F. Kinwelmersh tr. A. Le Roy Briefe Instr. Musicke Lute f. 17 You must..haue recourse to an other stryng, that maketh the vnisson with that.
1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 17 An Vnison [L. vnisonus] is..a Voyce so qualified, that it neither tendeth to depth nor to height.
1660 R. Boyle New Exper. Physico-mechanicall 211 A string tun'd (as Musicians speak..) to an Unison with it.
1677 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 12 840 Not the whole of that other string doth thus tremble, but the several parts severally, according as they are Unisons to the whole.
1728 E. Chambers Cycl. at Interval Unisons, 'tis plain, cannot possibly have any Variety.
1782 Crit. Rev. Aug. 121 A large piano forte, with three unisons, and only one set of keys.
1820 Q. Musical Mag. 2 306 He tried the octaves, and found them..all flat..; the unisons, generally speaking, were in tune.
1873 H. C. Banister Music §103 Two, or more, perfect 5ths, perfect 8ves, or perfect unisons, are forbidden between the same two parts.
1889 E. Brinsmead Hist. Pianoforte 186 Care must be taken that the unison of the note is tuned afterwards.
1918 Music Trades 5 Oct. 15/1 The perfect tuning of the unison cannot be dispensed with.
1940 J. L. Dunk Struct. of Musical Scale xi. 70 As we widen out from a Unison to an Octave, we pass successively all the intervals we use in practice, and we come back tonally to the same note.
2002 M. Richer Music Theory vii. 50 A unison is the term given to the same note as the starting note.
c. An accompanying melody played or sung at the same pitch as the voice or instrument accompanied, or one or more octaves apart. Also in figurative context.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > [noun] > unison
unisound1599
unison1603
unisonance1653
homophony1776
unbrokenness1849
homophone1879
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > [noun] > parts generally > string > types of
wirea1387
false string1597
unison1603
unison string1633
drone1793
music wire1823
silver string1876
sympathetic strings1888
1603 J. Davies Extasie in Microcosmos 254 I heard some say, God saue king Iames, our King. And therewithal I heard a Trumpets clang, That in an vnison that Dittie sang.
1727 G. Riva Advice to Composers Vocal Musick 9 It is not many Years since Unisons accompanying the singing Part were invented.
1799 A. F. C. Kollmann Ess. Pract. Musical Composition iii. 18 In Unisons, or passages where all instruments play the same melody, though in different Octaves.
1940 V. Brodsky in A. E. Wier Piano vii. i. 343 At certain given moments it is requisite that the partners establish reciprocal observation, as, for instance,..in playing unisons, and at the finish of compositions.
2009 Providence Jrnl. (Rhode Island) (Nexis) 11 Jan. (Features section) 1 If I'm singing a unison with Michael McDonald, I'm going to get a frenzied upper register going for myself.
2. figurative.† a. A thing perfectly agreeing or responding harmoniously with another; an utterance or expression of perfect agreement or assent. Obsolete.
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the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [noun] > exact > that which
unison1594
1594 W. Percy Sonnets to Fairest Coelia viii. sig. Bijv Thus it is, I loath both Meanes, meriment, Diapasons, So she and I may be but Vnisons.
a1628 J. Preston Foure Godly & Learned Treat. (1633) 188 If our wills and Christs will were unisons & coincident, then there were no need to deny our selves.
1658 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 2nd Pt. 205 Adam indeed had such a righteousnesse made to his hand, his heart and the Law were unisons.
1702 C. Mather Magnalia Christi iii. iii. i. 180/1 He thought that Minister and Market man, were not Unisons.
1748 J. Hervey Medit. among Tombs in Medit. & Contempl. (ed. 4) I. 37 Their Inclinations were nicely-tuned Unisons, and all their Conversation was Harmony.
1766 H. Brooke Fool of Quality I. v. 181 The muscles of Harry's expressive countenance, like an equally tuned instrument, uttered unisons to every word he heard.
a1834 S. T. Coleridge Lit. Remains (1836) I. 375 To make the intellectual faith a fair analogon or unison of the vital faith.
1876 J. Haven Hist. Philos. i. ii. 42 Virtue is the harmony of the soul, its unison.
b. Exact or perfect agreement, concord, or harmony; harmonious combination or union.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [noun] > exact
coincidence1605
unison1606
coincidencya1620
tallying1845
society > society and the community > dissent > absence of dissension or peace > [noun] > concord
sibsomenesseOE
somec1000
somrednessa1250
accordc1275
onehead1340
unityc1384
concordc1386
accordance1388
union?1435
onement1454
greement1483
agreeance1525
agreement1529
atonementa1535
onenessa1575
onehood?1578
harmony1588
agreea1592
unison1606
commodation1643
bon-accordc1650
unisoniety1663
regalia1745
at-oneness1877
1606 B. Barnes Foure Bks. Offices Pref. sig. Aiij This is a diuine harmonie representing mentally by due distribution of humane charitie, the sacred vnison of mans soule sanctified with God.
1664 J. Playford Brief Introd. Skill Musick (ed. 4) Pref. sig. A3 Friendship the Vnison of well tun'd Hearts.
1744 J. Thomson Summer in Seasons (new ed.) 112 Social Friends, Attun'd to happy Unison of Soul;..Now call'd abroad enjoy the falling Day.
1796 F. Burney Camilla I. i. i. 4 This exemplary couple was bound to each other by the most perfect unison of character.
a1821 J. Keats Hyperion (new ed.) 21 in Misc. Philobiblon Soc. (1856–7) III Nor could my eyes And ears act with that unison of sense Which marries sweet sound with the grace of form.
1871 F. W. Farrar Witness of Hist. v. 183 That beautiful unison of noble manhood, stainless womanhood, joyous infancy, and uncontaminated youth.
1920 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love xiii. 165 The world is only held together by the mystic conjunction, the ultimate unison between people—a bond.
2001 Tai Chi & Alternative Health No. 26. 13/1 One reaches the state of unison, which may be akin to enlightenment.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > degree, kind, or quality of sound > continuous or protracted sound > [noun] > monotonous sound
bummingc1487
drone1568
unison1609
droning1646
monotony1706
bum1790
monody1849
tum-tum1859
thrum1883
thrumming1941
1609 J. Dowland tr. A. Ornithoparchus Micrologus 26 The prayers..are read in an Vnison [L. in vnisono].
1742 A. Pope New Dunciad 604 Lost was the Nation's Sense, nor could be found, While the long solemn Unison [sc. a yawn] went round.
4. A combination of concordant sounds; a united and unanimous declaration or utterance.
ΘΚΠ
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > voice or vocal sound > [noun] > sound of voices > simultaneous
unison1619
chorus1735
the world > physical sensation > hearing and noise > thing heard > [noun] > sound > assemblage or body of > blended or concordant
chirm1530
charm1548
unison1619
1619 J. Rawlinson Vivat Rex 29 All the people should iointly pray for His welfare;..their voice, and their wish,..their loude shoute, and their loue should sound in an vnison.
1799 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Let. I. 502 How awful is [the] deep Unison of their undividable Murmur—What a one thing it is!
1806 W. Wordsworth Loud is Vale 3 A mighty unison of streams! Of all her Voices, One!
1855 E. B. Pusey Doctr. Real Presence 721 When the Holy Spirit..swept over the discordant strings of human tongues and thoughts..and blended all their varying notes into one holy unison of truth.
1871 F. T. Palgrave Lyrical Poems 135 That cry has been heard By a nation's unison swelled.
1911 Alpha Phi Q. June 273 It is a cold heart that does not thrill to the mighty unison of ‘Varsity’ and the long, slow, sustained U-rah-rah that follows it.
1998 A. Warner Sopranos 13 A unison of tuts came from the rear.
2007 R. G. Edwards Eafin Lokdore & Magician's Lost Medallion (ed. 2) i. 25 The resting troops responded in a loud unison of yelling.
B. adj.
1. † c. Equivalent to (also with); concordant, like-sounding. Obsolete.
a. Sounding together.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > relative time > simultaneity or contemporaneousness > [adjective]
altogether?c1400
concurrent1495
contemporana1500
unison1582
coincident1598
coetaneal1614
coactivea1616
contemporal1621
synchronisticalc1624
coetanean1625
coetaneous1649
coinstantanean1652
synchronical1652
simultal1654
contemporary1656
contemporaneous1659
simultaneousa1660
coevous1660
synchronal1660
coexistent1662
implicit1662
synchronous1669
coexistinga1676
synchronistic1685
coeval1714
contemporany1721
synchronizinga1727
joint1765
coinstantaneous1768
consentaneous1775
coinciding1786
conterminating1805
synchronic1833
coincidental1845
parallel1859
homochronous1876
monochronic1905
co-occurring1951
co-occurrent1954
1582 R. Stanyhurst tr. Virgil First Foure Bookes Æneis iii. 47 Thus God Apollo cryed: but wee with an vnison owtcrye..demaunded, what place God Phœbus apoincted.
1912 H. Sinclair Voices of To-day 56 There is something spiritless and depressing about unison speech, with its muffled, halting tread.
1975 Lang. for Life (Dept. Educ. & Sci.) v. 65 The use of drill involving unison responses is an unattractive feature for most British teachers.
2000 Music Educators Jrnl. 86 29/1 (heading) Unison Tapping and Clapping.
b. figurative. In complete agreement; unanimous, concordant. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > [adjective] > of beliefs, statements, or actions
universal1531
uniform1559
uniformal1574
unanime1610
univocal1615
unison1649
universanimous1649
unanimous1675
1649 W. Charleton in tr. J. B. van Helmont Ternary of Paradoxes Prolegomena sig. f4v By the unisone vote of the multitude.
1651 H. L'Estrange Answer Marques of Worcester's Paper 51 Is the Church of Rome so unison, so all of a piece, as to afford no jarres?
a1662 P. Heylyn Cyprianus Angl. (1671) ii. 447 The first branch [of a Bill] was carried in the Negative by..an Unison-consent in the Lords then present.
1762 O. Goldsmith Citizen of World I. 120 I only beg you'll endeavour to make your souls unison with mine.
1996 M. Ostow Myth & Madness v. 154 A unison declaration of their devotion to the country.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > [adjective] > specific with or to something
accordable1386
convenientc1400
agreeablea1450
to be standing withc1487
consonanta1492
consowningc1503
correspondenta1533
quadrant1536
constant1574
suitablea1586
uniforma1586
congruous1599
responsible1600
consentaneous1621
sympathizinga1627
consistible1642
consistent1646
consentany1648
consonate1649
quadratea1657
consonous1660
consentient1661
of a piece with1665
symmetrious1667
unison1675
consisting1700
one with ——a1848
congruent1875
the mind > language > linguistics > study of speech sound > speech sound > [adjective] > similar in sound
homophone1623
consonant1645
unison1675
homotonous1775
symphonious1786
idem sonans1822
homophonous1826
paronymous1835
antiphonetic1840
co-sonant1856
monophonous1869
symphonic1880
homophonic1942
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > chord > [adjective] > concord
concordant1551
consonant1609
unison1675
1675 T. Comber Compan. Altar ii. 214 Let us therefore elevate our thoughts to consider, how that glorious Choir doth sing this Hymn, that we may do it, with a fervency and pleasure almost unison to them.
1701 E. Settle Virgin Prophetess 22 Out of this set are drawn forth on each side, two more sets of Senes exactly Unison with the Inner set.
1710 R. Ward Life H. More 234 Some Circumstances.., or Particulars of his Writings, are not so unison to my Slower Faculties.
1760 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy I. xix. 128 Tristram!—Melancholy dissyllable of sound! which, to his ears, was unison to Nicompoop.
2. Music and Acoustics. Identical in pitch (to something) or one or more octaves apart; singing, sounding, etc., in unison.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > [adjective] > unison
unison1598
unisonous1664
unisonal1728
homophonous1753
unisonant1786
homophonic1881
1598 I. K. tr. A. Romei Courtier's Acad. 248 And therefore they, who laboured to bring in a commonwealth, al men to one condition and qualitie, created a policie rather of celestial, then terrestrial men: hauing no lesse erred, then did that Phisition [It. Musico], who sought to make harmonie of notes vnisone [It. voci vnisone].
1614 T. Jackson Third Bk. Comm. Apostles Creede iii. xviii. §4 As a string, though untouched, and unable to begin motion of itself, will yet raise it selfe to an vnison voice.
1654 W. Charleton Physiologia Epicuro-Gassendo-Charltoniana iii. vi. 211 Having experimented the different sounds of Metalls,..He found a Cylindre of Iron to be Unisone to another of steel, equal in diametre and length.
1667 J. Milton Paradise Lost vii. 599 All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire Temper'd soft Tunings, intermixt with Voice Choral or Unison . View more context for this quotation
1721 A. Malcolm Treat. Musick 580 When Two Voices sing together one Song, 'tis more agreeable that they be 8ve than unison with one another, in every Note.
1780 J. Elliot Philos. Observ. on Senses of Vision & Hearing 21 Neither can I always excite unison sounds in both ears by the same means.
1830 Edinb. Encycl. XV. 42/2 The organ, no doubt, was first used as a unison accompaniment to voices, but the facility which it furnishes of sounding several notes at once, would soon lead to the observation of the agreeable effect of some consonances.
1877 S. J. Gee Auscult. & Percuss. (ed. 2) i. iv. 74 A unison vibration, convibration, or consonance of the sac-wall is required to the production of tone.
1930 E. W. White Stravinsky's Sacrifice to Apollo i. 53 It seems almost a rule for the melodic line, whether vocal or instrumental, to avoid any unison agreement with the notes of the accompaniment like poison.
1959 R. Russell Harpsichord & Clavichord ii. 28 The usual model was a harpsichord with two unison sets of strings only.
1983 Horn Call Oct. 28 The work ends exuberantly in a hard-won unison statement of the horn's opening motive.
2003 B. Trapido Frankie & Stankie iv. 77 The rituals are always accompanied by the bullish drone of unison hymn-singing.
Phrases
P1. in unison (formerly also †in unisons).
a. Music. (Sounding together) at the same pitch or one or more octaves apart.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > harmony or sounds in combination > [adverb] > unison
in unison1603
unisonally1846
1603 T. Robinson Schoole of Musicke sig. Eiiiv A Fantasie for two Lutes. All in Vnisons.
1765 L. Sterne Life Tristram Shandy VII. xliv. 158 The nymphs join'd in unison, and their swains an octave below them.
1856 M. C. Clarke tr. H. Berlioz Treat. Mod. Instrumentation 32 To violoncellos..is ordinarily given the part of the double bass, which they double in the octave above or in unison.
1946 Musical Times 87 364/1 The first verse of the Venite could be heard at Westminster Abbey sung in unison by the men.
2004 Cadence Aug. 35/1 The soloist played a single line in unison in both hands.
b. figurative. In agreement or harmony; together, at the same time. Frequently with with.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > in agreement or harmony (with) [phrase]
in onea1400
according1523
in unison1604
of a piece1607
in concert1618
in consort1634
in tone1647
at unison1661
of a piece with1665
true1735
in suit with1797
in harmony1816
of a suit with1886
in tune1887
in key1919
tuned in1958
all-of-a-piece1960
1604 J. Downham Christian Warfare xvi. 66 What more grosse discord than when the tongue and heart disagree from one another, which should be tuned in vnisone?
1624 D. Featley Romish Fisher Caught sig. T2* Roffensis strikes in Vnisons with him.
1780 W. Cowper Parrot 36 Each character in ev'ry part Sustain'd with so much grace and art, And both in unison.
1836 W. Irving Astoria I. 287 A mode of redress perfectly in unison with the character of the man.
1879 F. W. Farrar Life & Work St. Paul I. v. xvii. 312 When such allies were in unison..it was easy to strike a deadly blow at the Nazarenes.
1907 Catholic Encycl. I. 710/1 Western bishops..were acting in unison with St. Basil.
1958 P. Gibbs Curtains of Yesterday 84 They moved perfectly in unison.
2012 Daily Mail (Nexis) 1 Nov. Goodison Park had risen in unison,..to recognise Kevin Sheedy's ultimate performance.
P2. at unison (formerly also †at unisons) = in unison at Phrases 1. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > relative properties > order > agreement, harmony, or congruity > in agreement or harmony (with) [phrase]
in onea1400
according1523
in unison1604
of a piece1607
in concert1618
in consort1634
in tone1647
at unison1661
of a piece with1665
true1735
in suit with1797
in harmony1816
of a suit with1886
in tune1887
in key1919
tuned in1958
all-of-a-piece1960
1661 J. Glanvill Vanity of Dogmatizing xi. 104 Reason and Faith are at perfect Unisons.
1772 Test Filial Duty II. 173 To warm the heart into that proper temperature, requisite to render it at unison with the delirium of lovers.
1866 J. W. Bosanquet Messiah the Prince 23 We regret to find ourselves not entirely at unison with Dr. Pusey in this interpretation.
1908 Sat. Rev. 4 Apr. 431/2 It is seldom that the public and the critics are found at unison about a play.
Compounds
unison stop n. Music (a) in an organ, a stop of the same pitch as the diapasons; (b) in a harpsichord, the second foundation register.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > stringed keyboards > [noun] > harpsichord > stop
stop1730
buff-stopa1819
unison stop1830
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > organ > [noun] > stop > other stops
twenty-secondc1700
vox humana1708
chorus1776
decima1825
glockenspiel1825
unison stop1830
montre1876
pyramidon1876
harmonic stop1880
orage1891
pipe stop1906
1830 Edinb. Encycl. XV. 673/2 The unison stops, called the open and stopped diapasons.
1896 A. J. Hipkins Descr. & Hist. Pianoforte 122 Unison Stop, properly the second foundation register in a harpsichord; the shorter of the unison strings in a double keyboard one, and sounding on the lower keyboard only.
1955 Proc. Royal Music Assoc. 81st Sess. 8 The chief rules of early baroque registration..: (1) Only use one unison stop at a time [etc.].
2005 D. Gwynn in G. Wainwright & P. Holman From Renaissance To Baroque xi. 214 Up to about 1670, the nominal length of the unison stop, called principal, was 5', a fourth above singing pitch.
unison string n. Music a string (of a piano, violin, etc.) tuned to the same pitch as another, or to a pitch an octave higher, and meant to be sounded with it.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > stringed instruments > [noun] > parts generally > string > types of
wirea1387
false string1597
unison1603
unison string1633
drone1793
music wire1823
silver string1876
sympathetic strings1888
1633 J. Hart Κλινικη iii. xxx. 367 But let any one touch the string of a lute or viall, and see whether the unisone string of another lute a mile off will make any vibration or stirring of the straw.
1732 G. Berkeley Alciphron I. iii. iv. 164 I feel an affection in my soul like the trembling of one lute, upon striking the unison strings of another.
1957 Observer 16 June 16/2 Against the terribly unambiguous sound of unison strings Moses cries out, ‘O Wort, das mir techt’.
2009 Ethnomusicol. 53 438 The simple, diatonic melody of the vocalist..is accompanied only by unison strings and tabla during the verse and refrain.
unison tune n. Music a tune to be sung in unison, as distinct from harmony or parts.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > type of music > vocal music > [noun] > musical setting > type of
unison tune1848
1848 L. Mason & G. J. Webb National Psalmist 150 (heading) Shawmut. S. M. (Unison Tune).
1869 Pall Mall Gaz. 7 July 12/2 [They] have composed unison tunes for this volume.
1928 Scotsman 23 Oct. 7/5 As to the unison tunes, some of them are absolutely impossible for tenors to sing.
2005 Perspectives New Music 43 191 A lickety-split unison tune between the violins and viola over a cello pedal offers a counter idea.
unison tuning n. Music the tuning of the strings of an instrument in unison.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > the arts > music > musical sound > pitch > tuning or intonation > [noun] > tuning of strings > types of string tuning
French tuning1676
accordatura1782
unison tuning1870
scordatura1876
1870 E. Brinsmead Hist. Pianoforte viii. 69 The same plan as that for learning the unison-tuning may be adopted for the octave.
1909 W. B. White Regulation & Repair of Piano & Player Mechanism v. 125 Unison tuning is the foundation of the whole art.
2000 Early Music 28 256/2 At present two courses of..strings are disposed 2 x 8', for unison tuning.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2015; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.a1450