celesta

[ suh-les-tuh ]

noun

1. a musical instrument consisting principally of a set of graduated steel plates struck with hammers that are activated by a keyboard.

celesta

/ sɪˈlɛst; sɪˈlɛstə /

noun

1. music a keyboard percussion instrument consisting of a set of steel plates of graduated length that are struck with key-operated hammers. The tone is an ethereal tinkling sound. Range: four octaves upwards from middle C

Word History and Origins

Origin of celesta¹

1895–1900; < French célesta, for céleste, literally, heavenly ( celestial ); the -a for -e makes the name pseudo-Italian

Word History and Origins

Origin of celesta¹

C19: from French, Latinized variant of céleste heavenly

Example Sentences

The instrument is called the Celesta Mustel, and costs 1,200 francs.

From Project Gutenberg