An alternative or archaic spelling of cembalo or cimbalo; a keyboard stringed instrument related to the harpsichord or dulcimer.
From Italian cembalo, derived from Latin cymbalum (cymbal), because the struck strings resemble cymbal sounds. The -o ending preserves Italian musical terminology.
This word shows how musical instruments traveled between languages—Italian musicians used 'cembalo' for the harpsichord because its plucked strings sounded like cymbals!
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