Where does “clavicymbal” come from?

clavicymbal (English) comes from Medieval Latin clavicymbalum, from Latin clāvis, from Ancient Greek κλείς, from Proto-Hellenic klāwī́ds, from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u- — nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...

clavicymbal (English): An early form of harpsichord

Definitions

  1. An early form of harpsichord

Ancestry of “clavicymbal”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Medieval Latinclavicymbalum
2Latinclāvisa key
3Ancient GreekκλείςSomething used to lock/unlock: key, bolt, bar; A...
4Proto-Hellenicklāwī́ds
5Proto-Indo-Europeankleh₂u-nail, pin, hook - instruments, of old use for...
Every word from Proto-Indo-European kleh₂u-Every word from Proto-Hellenic klāwī́dsEvery word from Ancient Greek κλείς