Obs. exc. Hist. Forms: 5–6 clavy-, 5–9 clavicord(e, 8–9 clavichord. (in It. clavicordo (Florio), Ger. klavichord, ad. 15th c. L. clavichordium (in Rules of Minnesingers), f. clāvis key + chorda chord, string. In 15–16th c. usually plural (pair of) clavichords. See also CLARICHORD.
It. clavicordo, Sp. clavicordio, Fr. clavicorde are the spinet; our clavichord is in these langs. manicordo, -cordio -corde.]
A musical instrument with strings and keys; in its developed form resembling a square pianoforte, the tones being produced by the action on the strings of ‘tangents’ or small brass wedges attached in upright position to the back of the keys.
1483. Caxton, G. de la Tour, K vj. Where his vyell and clauycordes were.
1502. Priv. Purse Exp. Eliz. of York (1830), 41. A straungier that gave the Quene a payre of clavycordes.
1632. Sherwood, Cotgr. Dict., Clauicords, comme Claricords.
1724. Stukeley, in Mem. (1882), I. 75. Making a clavichord with Jews trumps instead of strings.
1740–61. Mrs. Delany, Life & Corr. (1861), III. 414. Mary is now practising the clavicord, which I have got in the dining-room.
1769. Barrington, Mozart, in Phil. Trans., LX. 64. This great musician began to play on the clavichord when he was but seven years of age.
1803–19. Burney, in Rees, Cycl., s.v. Clavicord (L.), Hearing the incomparable Emanuel Bach touch his favourite clavicord at Hamburg.
1888. Hipkins, Mus. Instr., XXXIV. The clavichord is, without question, the earliest key-board stringed instrument, it having been developed from the monochord, used for teaching singing in monasteries and church schools. It appears to have come into use in the second half of the 14th century.
