Smear

DEFINITION

A slang term for a glissando performed on a trombone. Composer Henry Fillmore is known as the Father of the Trombone Smear, and wrote a series of fifteen novelty tunes featuring trombone smears. The most famous being Lassus Trombone.In Dixieland jazz, the trombone glissando (or smear) is also known as a tailgate.See also glissando; tailgate.