clavier

[kluh-veer, klav-ee-er, kley-vee-]

noun

1. the keyboard of a musical instrument.

2. Also klavier any musical instrument having a keyboard, especially a stringed keyboard instrument, as a harpsichord, clavichord, or piano.

clavier

/ kləˈvɪə, ˈklævɪə /

noun

1. 1. any keyboard instrument

   2. the keyboard itself

Other Word Forms

• clavierist noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clavier¹

First recorded in 1700–10, and in 1835–45 clavier for def. 2; from French: literally, “keyboard,” in Old French “keyholder,” equivalent to Latin clāvi(s) “key” + -ier noun suffix; clavier def. 2 is from German Klavier, in turn from French as above -ier ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of clavier¹

C18: from French: keyboard, from Old French (in the sense: key bearer), from Latin clāvis key

Example Sentences

But church elders reined in Antes when he tried to add keyboarding instruments, called claviers, to his product line, according to a passage in the 1762 minutes of “Bethlehem Elder Conference” that Shatto cited.

From Washington Times

The title of his famous collection of fugues, 'The Well-Tempered Clavier', does not allude to his clavier's behaviour.

From Nature

He played the clavier and the harpsichord both.

From The Guardian

As the historian Paul Johnson recounts in Mozart: A Life, Mozart began playing the clavier at age 4 and was composing at 5.

From Scientific American

The elevator does not go to the clavier cabin.

From New York Times

Related Words

• console 
• manual 
• piano