pi·an·o 1 (pē-ān'ō, pyān'ō) n.
pl.pi·an·os A musical instrument with a manual keyboard actuating hammers that strike wire strings, producing sounds that may be softened or sustained by means of pedals.
[Italian, short for pianoforte; see pianoforte.]
pi·a·no 2 (pē-ä'nō, pyä'-) adv.
& adj. Abbr. p In a soft or quiet tone. Used chiefly as a direction. n.
pl.pi·a·nos A passage to be played softly or quietly.
[Italian, from Late Latin plānus, smooth, graceful, from Latin, flat; see pelə-2 in Indo-European roots.]
1803, from Fr. piano, It. piano, shortened forms of pianoforte (q.v.). As an adv., "softly," in musical directions (superl. pianissimo), attested from 1683. Pianist is recorded from 1839, from Fr. pianiste, from It. pianista.