Forms: α. 7– spinette, 8 spinnette. β. 7–9 spinnet. γ. 8 spinett, 8– spinet. [ad. older F. espinette (1522; mod.F. épinette), = It. spinetta, -etto, Sp., Pg. espineta, mod.L. spineta (a. 1558 Scaliger Poet. I. xlviii). Cf. ESPINETTE.
Acc. to Scaliger spineta was formed on L. spīna, with reference to the crow-quills which had been introduced into the mechanism. This, however, would be an unusual application of spīna, and greater probability attaches to the explanation given by A. Banchieri in 1608, that the name was derived from the inventor of the instrument, Giovanni Spinetti of Venice, whose name Banchieri had seen on a spinet dated 1503. See Grove’s Dict. Mus. s.v.]
A keyed musical instrument, common in England in the 18th century, closely resembling the harpsichord, but smaller and having only one string to each note.
A full description of the various kinds of spinet is given in Grove’s Dict. Mus., s.v.
α. 1664. Pepys, Diary, 1 July. One Cheswicke, a master who plays very well upon the Spinette.
1686. trans. Chardin’s Trav. Persia, 229. When the Spinette came they set it upon the Table in the midst of the Room.
1761. Ann. Reg., Chron., 128. Father de la Borde, the inventor of the electrical spinette.
1763. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1892), I. 352. I am vastly pleased with her playing on the spinnette and singing.
1874. T. Archer, Sword & Shuttle, i. in Casquet Lit., 2nd Ser. I. 250/1. A spinette in the corner of the room was open.
1886. Mrs. Marshall, Tower on Cliff, iv. 52. It is not every woman can … play on the spinette.
β. 1696. H. Purcell (title), A Choice Collection of Lessons for the Harpsichord or Spinnet.
1713. Swift, Cadenus & Vanessa, Wks. 1751, III. II. 27. When miss delights in her spinnet, A fiddler may a fortune get.
1786. Ann. Reg., Chron., 207/2. The strings of a spinnet were heard to vibrate.
1821. Galt, Ann. Parish, xii. 118. An old woman, sitting whole hours jingling with that paralytic chattel a spinnet.
1881. Besant & Rice, Chapl. of Fleet, I. viii. (1883), 61. [She] had once been a proficient on the spinnet, but there was no spinnet to be had.
γ. 1702. Steele, Funeral, II. There’s the Spinet Mr. Campley, I know you’re Musical.
1773. J. Adams, Wks. (1850), II. 323. The young ladies … entertained us upon the spinet, &c.
1810. A. Boswell, Edinburgh, Poet. Wks. (1871), 51. While ‘Nancy Dawson,’ ‘Sandie o’er the lee,’… Ring on the jingling spinet or guitar.
1847. H. Miller, First Impr. Eng., v. 74. He had fitted up an old spinet, until it awoke into life, in these latter days of Collards and Broadwoods.
1889. Brinsmead, Hist. Pianoforte, 94. The English spinet was similar to the virginal except in its shape.
attrib. and Comb. 1703. Steele, Tender Husb., III. ii. Madam, your Spinet Master is come.
1883. Grove’s Dict. Mus., III. 656/1. Stephen Keene was a well-known spinet-maker. Ibid. His spinets … reached the highest perfection of spinet tone possible.
