Apedia

Virginal N Type Small Piano Harpsichord Strings Running

Word virginal (n.)
Definition n. A type of small piano or harpsichord with the strings running parallel to the keyboard.


Sentence A hapless courtier named Sir John Puckering gave Elizabeth a diamond-festooned silk fan, several loose jewels, a gown of rare splendor, and a pair of exceptionally fine virginals, then watched at their first dinner as Her Majesty admired the silver cutlery and a salt cellar and, without a word, dropped them into the royal handbag.
Source At Home, Bill Bryson

Image: Wikimedia commons, public domain: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Double_Virginal_MET_DP332579.jpg

Tags: language::english, topic::vocabulary

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