Taille

noun
  1. A form of taxation in pre-revolutionary France, typically levied on the common people by the king or a feudal lord. noun
    The taille was a significant burden on the peasantry during the Ancien Régime.
    Reformers argued that the taille was an unfair tax that contributed to social unrest.
  2. In music, particularly in French Baroque music, the taille refers to a tenor oboe, an instrument similar to the modern English horn. noun
    The composer included a part for the taille in his orchestral suite.
    The taille added a rich, mellow tone to the ensemble's performance.