spinet
Americannoun
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a small upright piano.
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a small, square piano.
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any of various small harpsichords.
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Also called spinet organ. a small electric organ.
noun
Etymology
Origin of spinet
1655–65; aphetic variant of obsolete espinette < French < Italian spinetta, probably equivalent to spin ( a ) thorn ( see spine) + -etta diminutive suffix; the existence of an instrument-maker named Spinetti is unverified
Vocabulary lists containing spinet
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Maret and Spinet hope all of the museum’s historical artifacts are preserved, but they also know they won’t be around forever to make sure that happens.
From Washington Times • May 24, 2015
“We feel like a parent showing off our baby,” Spinet said, patting one of the snowplows fondly.
From Washington Times • May 24, 2015
Now that group is down to Spinet, 76, and Maret, 81.
From Washington Times • May 24, 2015
On Tuesday a father and son from Canada stopped by and happened to catch Spinet for a tour.
From Washington Times • May 24, 2015
The first of these was the one called in England Spinet, or in Italy Espinnetto, and in Germany the Clavier.
From A Popular History of the Art of Music From the Earliest Times Until the Present by Mathews, W. S. B. (William Smythe Babcock)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
