Plural of clef: a musical symbol placed at the beginning of a staff that indicates which notes are represented by the lines and spaces.
From French 'clef' meaning 'key,' from Latin 'clavis' meaning 'key.' The musical term metaphorically uses 'key' because the clef is the key to reading the notation—it unlocks what the notes mean.
Music notation borrows the word 'key' in two ways—clefs are the 'key' to reading notes, and musical keys are the 'keys' to understanding which notes belong together, showing how one concept can generate multiple meanings through metaphorical extension.
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