clavicytherium

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)kleh₂w-“crook, hook, peg”
2. Medieval Latin · derived fromclāvis“key”
3. Late Latin · derived fromclavicytherium
4. English todayclavicytherium

From Late Latin clavicytherium, from Medieval Latin clāvis (“key”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kleh₂w- (“crook, hook, peg”)) + cithara (“cithara, guitar, lute, lyre”) + -ium (“suffix forming nouns”).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• early 16th c. A harpsichord in which the soundboard and strings are mounted vertically facing the player.