‖ clavicytherium Mus.
(ˌklævɪsɪˈθɪərɪəm)
[Better clavicitherium, med.L., f. clāvis key + cither.]
An early musical instrument of the harpsichord type, being really an upright spinet.
| [1511 Virdung Musica getutscht (Basel), Claviciterium. 1611 M. Prætorius Syntagm. Music. (Wolfenbüttel) II. xli, Clavicytherium.] 1819 Pantologia III, Clavicytherum, the clavichord. 1860 Rimbault Pianoforte 28 The clavicytherium, or keyed-cithara. 1880 A. J. Hipkins in Grove Dict. Mus., Clavicytherium, an upright musical instrument allied to the horizontal harpsichord and spinet. 1888 ― Mus. Inst. Plate vi. Named Clavicytherium by the earliest writer on musical instruments, Virdung..who gives a drawing of one. It is in fact a spinet set upright. |