clavier

[ kluh-veer, klav-ee-er, kley-vee- ]
See synonyms for clavier on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. the keyboard of a musical instrument.

  2. Also kla·vier . any musical instrument having a keyboard, especially a stringed keyboard instrument, as a harpsichord, clavichord, or piano.

Origin of clavier

1
First recorded in 1700–10, and in 1835–45 for def. 2; from French: literally, “keyboard,” in Old French “keyholder,” equivalent to Latin clāvi(s) “key” + -ier noun suffix; def. 2 is from German Klavier, in turn from French as above see -ier2

Other words from clavier

  • cla·vier·ist, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for clavier

clavier

/ (kləˈvɪə, ˈklævɪə) /


noun
    • any keyboard instrument

    • the keyboard itself

Origin of clavier

1
C18: from French: keyboard, from Old French (in the sense: key bearer), from Latin clāvis key

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012