Mus. [F. clavecin, ad. med.L. clavicymbalum or It. clavicembalo: see CLAVICYMBAL.] The French name of the harpsichord: sometimes used by English writers.
1819. Pantologia, Clavecin (Fr.), in music, a harpsichord.
1881. A. J. Hipkins, in Grove, Dict. Mus., III. 194. About the year 1500 the clavecin had been made in the clavichord shape, and called Spinet.
Hence Clavecinist [a. F. claveciniste], a player on the clavecin.
1865. J. Hullah, Transit. Period Music, 243. The sudden indisposition … of the Clavecinist, gave him [Handel] an opportunity.
1868. Browning, Ring & Bk., I. I. 1209. As … Clavecinist … debarred his instrument Yet thrums … With desperate finger on dumb table edge.
