clavier

- 4 dictionary results

cla⋅vier

1 [kluh-veer, klav-ee-er, kley-vee-]

–noun

the keyboard of a musical instrument.

Origin:
1700–10; < F: keyboard, in OF, keyholder, equiv. to L clāvi(s) key + -ier -ier ²

2 [kluh-veer, klav-ee-er, kley-vee-]

–noun

any musical instrument having a keyboard, esp. a stringed keyboard instrument, as a harpsichord, clavichord, or piano.

Also, klavier.

Origin:
1835–45; < G Klavier < F clavier keyboard; see clavier ¹

Related forms:

cla⋅vier⋅ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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cla·vier (klə-vîr', klā'vē-ər, klāv'ē-)

n. Music

[German Klavier, from French clavier, from Old French, key-bearer, from Latin clāvis, key.]

Encyclopedia

clavier

any stringed keyboard musical instrument in Germany from the late 17th century. The harpsichord, the clavichord, and, later, the piano bore the name.

Learn more about clavier with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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