spinet
9.9
A small early keyboard instrument like a harpsichord with one string per note
- noun
- /ˈspɪnɪt/
- Specialized
:
cembalo
- Well, it's a spinet by Larande, late 18th century French.
Examples
-
The spinet produces a soft, delicate sound that is perfect for classical music.
-
Perhaps it was not me playing the spinet.
-
The musician performed a beautiful piece on the spinet during the concert.
-
In her music room, she proudly displayed the antique spinet inherited from her grandmother.
Synonyms
harpsichord
vsspinet
7
8.4
A keyboard instrument with strings plucked to make a bright sound
is a smaller, compact early form with a single string per note
cembalo
vsspinet
1
9.9
A keyboard instrument like a piano that makes sound by plucking strings
is a smaller, early subtype with one string per note and oblong shape
1
9.9
A small rectangular keyboard like a simple harpsichord played on a table
is compact and oblong with one string per note rather than rectangular and legless
How Big
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word spinet comes from the Italian spinetta, from spina meaning 'thorn', named for the little quill used to pluck each string. So a spinet is a small, early kind of harpsichord with a compact, narrow shape.