Definitions for "Ophicleide"
Keywords:  tuba, serpent, brass, bass, contrabass
A large brass wind instrument, formerly used in the orchestra and in military bands, having a loud tone, deep pitch, and a compass of three octaves; -- now generally supplanted by bass and contrabass tubas. It developed from the older wooden instrument called the serpent.
a brass bass instrument now replaced by the tuba, itself a development from the serpent (see serpent)
The ophicleide is a family of conical bore, brass keyed bugles.