claviola

noun

clav·​i·​ola

ˌkla-vē-ˈō-lə,

ˌklā-

variants or less commonly claviol

ˈkla-vē-ˌōl,

ˈklā-

plural claviolas also claviols

: a 19th-century keyboard instrument in which the strings are sounded by means of a rotating rosined wheel operated by one hand

Word History

Etymology

blend of clavi- and viol, viole

First Known Use

circa 1813, in the meaning defined above

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