clavichord

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UK/ˈklæv.ɪˌkɔːd/US/ˈklæv.ɪˌkɔɹd/

noun

An early keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades (called tangents) attached to the inner ends of the keys gently striking the strings.

Similar
manichord
OriginGerman Klavichord ← Renaissance Latin clavichordium →
UncommonScrabble 21
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Meanings

nounclavichord (plural clavichords)

plural clavichords

  1. entertainmentAn early keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades (called tangents) attached to the inner ends of the keys gently striking the strings.

    Synonyms: manichord

Synonyms & antonyms

nounAn early keyboard instrument producing a soft sound by means of metal blades (called tangents) attached to the inner ends of the keys gently striking the strings.

Similar
manichord

Origin

  1. Renaissance Latinclavichordium
  2. GermanKlavichord
  3. Englishclavichord

From German Klavichord, from Renaissance Latin clavichordium, from clāvis (“key”) + chorda (“cord, string”).

More words from German, Renaissance Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan clavicordi
  • clavicordiearly keyboard instrument
Chinese Mandarin 小鍵琴 /小键琴
  • 小鍵琴 /小键琴 (xiǎojiànqín)early keyboard instrument
Danish klavichord
  • klavichordearly keyboard instrument
Dutch klavechord, klavichord
  • klavechordearly keyboard instrument
  • klavichordearly keyboard instrument
Estonian klavikord
  • klavikordearly keyboard instrument
Finnish klavikordi
  • klavikordiearly keyboard instrument
French clavicorde, manicordion
  • clavicordeearly keyboard instrument
  • manicordionearly keyboard instrument
German Clavichord, Klavichord
  • Clavichordearly keyboard instrument
  • Klavichordearly keyboard instrument
Greek κλαβίχορδο
  • κλαβίχορδο (klavíchordo)early keyboard instrument
Hungarian klavikord
  • klavikordearly keyboard instrument
Irish clabhchorda
  • clabhchordaearly keyboard instrument
Italian clavicordo, clavicordio
  • clavicordoearly keyboard instrument
  • clavicordioearly keyboard instrument
Latin clavichordium
  • clavichordiumearly keyboard instrument
Lithuanian klavikordas
  • klavikordasearly keyboard instrument
Polish klawikord
  • klawikordearly keyboard instrument
Portuguese clavicórdio
  • clavicórdioearly keyboard instrument
Romanian clavicord
  • clavicordearly keyboard instrument
Russian клавико́рд
  • клавико́рд (klavikórd)early keyboard instrument
Spanish clavicordio
  • clavicordioearly keyboard instrument
Swedish klavikord
  • klavikordearly keyboard instrument
Tagalog klabikordyo
  • klabikordyoearly keyboard instrument
Cite this entry
APA

clavichord. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clavichord

MLA

“clavichord.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clavichord. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “clavichord,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/clavichord.

Source: clavichord on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.