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.
What he did bring with him was a spinet piano that he set up in the living room and an acoustic guitar that usually occupied his bedroom.
From Salon • Mar. 4, 2026
Although the previous owner of the spinet piano in Diamond Park has not come forward, the Bernal Heights incident might tease a possible explanation for the appearance of the mysterious instrument.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 28, 2023
At his house, Henry’s office held a spinet piano, a rack of acoustic guitars, a turntable, vintage ribbon microphones and assorted CDs and LPs.
From New York Times • Nov. 18, 2019
At the championship, they tackled such words as troika, jeremiad, syndrome, vitriol, spinet, bezoar and cynosure.
From Washington Times • Mar. 27, 2019
The tinkle of a spinet, low voices, laughter.
From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes
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.
