virginals
- noun
- /ˈvɜrdʒɪnəlz/
- Archaic
:
virginal
- She played a beautiful piece on the virginals that captivated everyone in the room.
Examples
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The virginals were commonly found in homes during the Renaissance, often used for both practice and performance.
-
Engraving after Jan Vermeer, A Lady Standing at the Virginals (from Gazette des Beaux-Arts, 1866; photo: J. Cook).
Academic text (1994) -
During the concert, the musician showcased her skills on the virginals, enchanting the audience.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small rectangular keyboard like a simple harpsichord played on a table
A rectangular instrument without legs with keys like a harpsichord, often played by women in the 1500s and 1600s
Compounds
- Archaic
A rectangular instrument without legs with keys like a harpsichord, often played by women in the 1500s and 1600s
How Loud
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Virginals (the small keyboard instrument) likely gets its name from the old word virgin, from virgo, which means 'maiden' or 'young woman'. A helpful way to remember this is that the instrument was often played by young women and has a pure, delicate sound, so the name links to 'virgin' and the idea of a light, simple tone.