Etymologically
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keyboard

Etymology and origin of the English word keyboard

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Compound
First attested
1776

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈki.bɔɹd/; /ˈkiːbɔːd/ (UK)[1]

Etymology

It is a compound of key, in the sense part of the mechanism of a musical instrument, and board.[2][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The set of keys of a piano, organ or similar instrument: 1776 in MWU, 1819 in the OED and Etymonline.[3][4][2]

Semantic evolution

It was extended to the keys of a typewriter and other machines in 1846.[2][4] The verb is first recorded in 1926, implied in keyboarding,[2][4] and to set copy with a keyed typesetting machine from 1961.[4] Musical instruments with keyboards, often called keyboards, are colloquial from 1971.[4] The keyboard of a computer terminal is a later application.[5]

Timeline

  • 1776 – keys of an instrument.[3]
  • 1846 – of a typewriter.[2]
  • 1926 – keyboarding (verb).[2]
  • 1971 – keyboards, instruments.[4]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A set of keys, as on a computer, typewriter or piano.
  2. An electronic musical instrument played by keys, often linked to a synthesizer.

Verb

  1. To type or set text using a keyboard.
  2. To play music on a keyboard instrument.

Word family

  • keyboarder
  • keyboardist
  • rekeyboard
  • pedal keyboard

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b c d e f Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
Cite this entry

“Keyboard.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/keyboard. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·