noun

piccolo

PIK-uh-loh/ˈpɪkələʊ/

A small, high-pitched flute.

The piccolo adds a bright, high note to the melody.

An older musician plays a compact black-and-silver piccolo, with its short length clearly apparent beside his face and hands.

Etymology

Italian piccolo means “small,” as in flauto piccolo, “small flute.” The adjective became the instrument’s name: a smaller flute sounding an octave above the ordinary flute.

In context

Town Meeting TV54:21

adds a piccolo which doesn't seem like a big deal but it brightens the top of the orchestra

What’s So Great about Beethoven’s Fifth? | Education and Enrichment for Everyone

More examples

She switches from flute to piccolo during the concert.
Two piccolos play above the marching band's drums.
He practices a difficult passage on his piccolo.

Forms

piccolo · piccolos

Similar words

flute: Usually refers to the larger instrument with a lower range.
fife: Usually keyless and strongly associated with military marching bands.