Cornet \Cor"net\ (k?r"n?t), n. [F. cornet, m. (for senses 1 & 2), cornette, f. & m. (for senses 3 & 4), dim. of corne horn, L. cornu. See Horn.]

1. (Mus.)
   (a) An obsolete rude reed instrument (Ger. Zinken), of the oboe family.
   (b) A brass instrument, with cupped mouthpiece, and furnished with valves or pistons, now used in bands, and, in place of the trumpet, in orchestras. See Cornet-[`a]-piston.
   (c) A certain organ stop or register.

2. A cap of paper twisted at the end, used by retailers to inclose small wares. --Cotgrave.

3. (Mil.)
   (a) A troop of cavalry; -- so called from its being accompanied by a cornet player. [Obs.]

``A body of five cornets of horse.'' --Clarendon.
   (b) The standard of such a troop. [Obs.]


   (c) The lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, who carried the standard. The office was abolished in 1871.

4. A headdress:
   (a) A square cap anciently worn as a mark of certain professions.
   (b) A part of a woman's headdress, in the 16th century.

5. [Cf. Coronet.]

(Far.) See Coronet, 2.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)