Harpsichord

Harpsichord
Harpsichord Harp"si*chord (-k[^o]rd), n. [OF. harpechorde, in which the harpe is of German origin. See {Harp}, and {Chord}.] (Mus.) A harp-shaped instrument of music set horizontally on legs, like the grand piano, with strings of wire, played by the fingers, by means of keys provided with quills, instead of hammers, for striking the strings. It is now superseded by the piano. [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Harpsichord — in the Flemish style Bach s Little Prelude in C major being played on a harpsichord. A harpsichord, also known by the name cembalo, is a musical instrument pla …   Wikipedia

  • Harpsichord — Harpsichord, der gewöhnliche englische Name des Klavicymbals oder Kielflügels (s. Klavier) …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Harpsichord — (Harpichord, spr. kohrd), der engl. Name des Cembalo (s.d.) …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • harpsichord — 1610s, from Fr. harpechorde harp string, from Mod.L. harpichordium (Cf. It. arpicordo), from harpa (see HARP (Cf. harp) (n.)) + chorda string (see CORD (Cf. cord)). The s is unexplained, but it is attested in the earliest English forms …   Etymology dictionary

  • harpsichord — ► NOUN ▪ a keyboard instrument similar in shape to a grand piano, with horizontal strings plucked by points operated by depressing the keys. DERIVATIVES harpsichordist noun. ORIGIN from Latin harpa harp + chorda string …   English terms dictionary

  • harpsichord — [härp′si kôrd΄] n. [obs. Fr harpechorde or It arpicordo < arpa (LL harpa < Gmc * harpa: see HARP) + corda (see CORD); s is intrusive] a stringed musical instrument with a keyboard, often with two manuals: the strings are plucked by points… …   English World dictionary

  • harpsichord — harpsichordist, n. /hahrp si kawrd /, n. a keyboard instrument, precursor of the piano, in which the strings are plucked by leather or quill points connected with the keys, in common use from the 16th to the 18th century, and revived in the 20th …   Universalium

  • harpsichord — [17] Harpsichord means literally ‘harp string’. Harp [OE] is a Germanic word. It comes from a prehistoric West and North Germanic *kharpōn, which also produced German harfe, Dutch harp, and Swedish harpa, and was borrowed into the Romance… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • harpsichord — UK [ˈhɑː(r)psɪˌkɔː(r)d] / US [ˈhɑrpsɪˌkɔrd] noun [countable] Word forms harpsichord : singular harpsichord plural harpsichords a musical instrument similar to a small piano …   English dictionary

  • harpsichord — [17] Harpsichord means literally ‘harp string’. Harp [OE] is a Germanic word. It comes from a prehistoric West and North Germanic *kharpōn, which also produced German harfe, Dutch harp, and Swedish harpa, and was borrowed into the Romance… …   Word origins

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