chamade: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Rare / Archaic-LiteraryLiterary, Historical, Figurative (formal contexts)
Quick answer
What does “chamade” mean?
A historical military signal (drumbeat or trumpet call) requesting a parley or signaling surrender.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A historical military signal (drumbeat or trumpet call) requesting a parley or signaling surrender.
In modern figurative use: a signal of retreat, capitulation, or a profound concession in a conflict or negotiation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally rare in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British historical writing.
Connotations
Conveys a formal, almost ceremonial surrender. Lacks the negative connotations of 'defeat'; implies a reasoned, honorable cessation of hostilities.
Frequency
Extremely low-frequency word. Readers may encounter it in classic literature (e.g., Thackeray, P.G. Wodehouse) or sophisticated contemporary prose.
Grammar
How to Use “chamade” in a Sentence
sound [OBJECT: chamade]beat [OBJECT: chamade]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chamade” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- From the ramparts, the distinct beat of the chamade was heard, signalling the garrison's wish to parley.
- In the end, it was a chamade from his own conscience that ended the internal struggle.
American English
- The general, seeing the futility of further resistance, ordered the drums to sound a chamade.
- Her silence was the final chamade in their longstanding argument.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Metaphorical: 'After months of negotiation, the competitor finally sounded the chamade, agreeing to our core terms.'
Academic
In historical texts discussing 17th–18th century warfare or the laws of war.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
In historical reenactment communities or detailed military history.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chamade”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chamade”
- Misspelling as 'charmade' or 'shamade'. Using it as a verb (e.g., 'they chamaded'). It is almost exclusively a noun.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. It is a historical term from the 17th–18th centuries, primarily used in literary or figurative contexts today.
Extremely rarely and non-standardly. Dictionaries list it as a noun. The standard constructions are 'to sound/beat a chamade.'
It comes from French 'chamade', from Portuguese 'chamada' or Spanish 'llamada', meaning 'a call', from Latin 'clamare' (to shout).
No. It is a C2-level curiosity. Learners should be able to recognize it in context but need not actively use it.
A historical military signal (drumbeat or trumpet call) requesting a parley or signaling surrender.
Chamade is usually literary, historical, figurative (formal contexts) in register.
Chamade: in British English it is pronounced /ʃəˈmɑːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ʃəˈmɑːd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sound the chamade of the heart (literary: to concede emotionally)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Shhh... a MAID announces a surrender.' The 'sh' sound starts the word, and a maid might formally announce guests (or here, a truce).
Conceptual Metaphor
CONFLICT IS WAR (A negotiation or argument is conceptualized as a battle, and conceding is sounding a formal surrender signal).
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'chamade' MOST appropriately used?