Spinet, << SPIHN iht, >> is a keyboard musical instrument that was popular from the 1500’s to the 1700’s. Many spinets look like miniature grand pianos. A spinet operates like a harpsichord, though its sound is not as rich (see Harpsichord). A spinet has wire strings plucked by quills or pieces of leather when the keys are pressed down. The word spinet may have come from the Italian spina, which means thorn, and may refer to the quills. Spinet is also the name of a small upright piano. See also Piano (Upright pianos).
