Emily Dickinson Lexicon

TRUMP'ET, n. [It. tromba, trombetta; Sp. trompa, trompeta; Fr. trompette; Gaelic, trompa, trompaid; G. trompete; D. and Sw. trompet; Dan. trompette; Arm. trompett. The radical letters and the origin are not ascertained.]

1. A wind instrument of music, used chiefly in war and military exercises. It is very useful also at sea, in speaking with ships. There is a speaking trumpet, and a hearing trumpet. They both consist of long tubular bodies, nearly in the form of a parabolic conoid, with wide mouths. The trumpet's loud clangor / Excites us to arms. Dryden.
2. In the military style, a trumpeter. He wisely desired that a trumpet might be first sent for a pass. Clarendon.
3. One who praises or propagates praise, or is the instrument of propagating it. A great politician was pleased to be the trumpet of his praises.