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.
Most of the songs from “Born to Run” were composed on that spinet piano, but the title track found its origins on that acoustic guitar in 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
The scenic designer Andromache Chalfant has done it up for the occasion as a gauzy salon, with a velvet-draped spinet, mossy paintings, heavy curtains and fairy lights.
From New York Times • May 2, 2019
At the championship, they tackled such words as troika, jeremiad, syndrome, vitriol, spinet, bezoar and cynosure.
From Washington Times • Mar. 27, 2019
The last sound Johnny heard was the fairy tinkle of the spinet.
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.
