spinet

Noun

Open English WordNet

Noun (2)

  1. a small and compactly built upright pianoType of upright, upright piano
  2. early model harpsichord with only one string per noteType of harpsichord, cembalo
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burgeonverb

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Spin′et noun

Origin: OF. espinete, F. épinette (cf. It. spinetta), fr. L. spina a thorn; — so called because its quills resemble thorns. See Spine.

Music A keyed instrument of music resembling a harpsichord, but smaller, with one string of brass or steel wire to each note, sounded by means of leather or quill plectrums or jacks. It was formerly much used.

Dumb spinet. Music See Manichordon.

Spi′net noun

Origin: L. spinetum. See Spinny.

A spinny. obsolete Ben Jonson

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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