n. A keyboard instrument whose strings are plucked by means of quills or plectrums. [Alteration of obsolete French harpechorde, from Italian arpicordo : arpa, harp (from Late Latin harpa, of Germanic origin) + corda, string (from Latin chorda, from Greek khordē; see gherə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots).] harpsi·chord′ist n. |
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