keyboard English · revision 7870

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=compound|attested=1776}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈki.bɔɹd/; /ˈkiːbɔːd/ ''(UK)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is a compound of [[key]], in the sense part of the mechanism of a musical instrument, and [[board]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The set of keys of a piano, organ or similar instrument: 1776 in MWU, 1819 in the OED and Etymonline.^(MWU 2024)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ It was extended to the keys of a typewriter and other machines in 1846.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb is first recorded in 1926, implied in keyboarding,^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) and to set copy with a keyed typesetting machine from 1961.^(OED 1989) Musical instruments with keyboards, often called keyboards, are colloquial from 1971.^(OED 1989) The keyboard of a computer terminal is a later application.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1776 – keys of an instrument.^(MWU 2024)

+ * 1846 – of a typewriter.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1926 – keyboarding (verb).^(Etymonline)

+ * 1971 – keyboards, instruments.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A set of [[key|alt=keys]], as on a [[computer]], typewriter or [[piano]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # An electronic musical instrument played by keys, often linked to a [[synthesizer]].^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To type or set text using a keyboard.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+ # To play music on a keyboard instrument.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[keyboarder]]

+ * [[keyboardist]]

+ * [[rekeyboard]]

+ * [[pedal keyboard]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[key]]

+ * [[keypad]]

+ * [[board]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}