harpsichord

UK: /ˈhɑː^rpsikɔː^rd/ US: /ˈhɑrpsɪˌkɔrd/ ,(härp′si kôrd′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

harp•si•chord /ˈhɑrpsɪˌkɔrd/   n. [countable]

1. Music and Dance a musical keyboard instrument whose strings are plucked by leather points.

harp•si•chord•ist, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

harp•si•chord  (härp′si kôrd′), n. 

1. Music and Dance a keyboard instrument, precursor of the piano, in which the strings are plucked by leather or quill points connected with the keys, in common use from the 16th to the 18th century, and revived in the 20th.

• Neo-Latin harpichordium (with intrusive -s- of obscure origin, originally). See harp, -i-, chord¹
• 1605–15

harp′si•chord′ist, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

harpsichord / ˈhɑːpsɪˌkɔːd/ noun

1. a horizontally strung stringed keyboard instrument, triangular in shape, consisting usually of two manuals controlling various sets of strings plucked by pivoted plectrums mounted on jacks. Some harpsichords have a pedal keyboard and stops by which the tone colour may be varied

Etymology: 17th Century: from New Latin harpichordium, from Late Latin harpa harp + Latin chorda chord¹

ˈharpsiˌchordist noun