SPINET (Fr. Épinette; Ital. Spinetta). A keyed instrument, with plectra or jacks, used in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries; according to Burney (Rees's Cycl. 1819, ‘Harpsichord
’) ‘a small harpsichord or virginal with one string to each note.
’ The following definitions are from Florio's ‘New World of Words,
’ 1611:—‘Spinetta, a kind of little spina . . . also a paire of Virginall es
’; ‘Spinettegiare, to play upon Virginalles
’; ‘Spinetto, a thicket of brambles or briars...
