faburden

English

Etymology

From French faux bourdon. See false, and burden (“a verse”).

Noun

faburden (plural faburdens)

1. (music) A kind of counterpoint with a drone bass.
2. (music) A succession of chords of the sixth.
3. (obsolete) A refrain.
   • 1596, Thomas Nashe, “The Letter of Harueys Tutor to his Father, as touching his manners and behauior”, in Have with You to Saffron-Walden:

     [B]ecause he obseru'd Ergo was the deadly clap of the piece, […] hee accustomed to make it the Faburden to anie thing hee spake; As if anie of his companions complained hee was hungrie, hee would straight conclude Ergo you must goe to dinner; or if the clocke had stroke or bell towld, Ergo you must goe to such a Lecture; […]

   • 1601, C[aius] Plinius Secundus [i.e., Pliny the Elder], “[Book X.] Of Stockedoues.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Historie of the World. Commonly Called, The Naturall Historie of C. Plinius Secundus. […], 1st tome, London: […] Adam Islip, →OCLC:

     They haue all of them one and the same manner of tune in their singing; and commonly they make three rests in their song, besides the fa-burden in the end, which is a kind of grone.

   • 1602, Roger Marbecke, “The sixt reason […] ”, in A defence of tabacco:

     But yet; like, finding his like: it expelleth that like: say you still: and this is the faburden of your song.