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harpsichord
(härp′si kôrd′)
noun
a stringed musical instrument with a keyboard, often with two manuals: the strings are plucked by points of leather or quill when the keys are pressed, producing short, abrupt tones
Origin: obs. Fr harpechorde or It arpicordo < arpa (LL harpa < Gmc *harpa: see harp) + corda (see cord); -s- is intrusive
Related Forms:
- harpsichordist noun
See harpsichord in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A keyboard instrument whose strings are plucked by means of quills or plectrums.
Origin:
Origin: Alteration of obsolete French harpechorde
Origin: , from Italian arpicordo
Origin: : arpa, harp (from Late Latin harpa, of Germanic origin)
Origin: + corda, string (from Latin chorda, from Greek khordē; see gherə- in Indo-European roots)
.Related Forms:
- harpˈsi·chordˌist noun
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