digitoriumn.
/ˌdɪdʒᵻˈtɔːrɪəm/, U.S. /ˌdɪdʒᵻˈtɔriəm/ A small portable keyboard which produces no sound when played, and which players of keyboard instruments use for practice and esp. to exercise the fingers and wrists. Cf. dumb piano at dumb adj. 8.
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society > leisure > the arts > music > musical instrument > keyboard instrument > stringed keyboards > [noun] > pianoforte > types of piano
grand pianoforte1784
square pianoforte1787
grand piano1795
cottage pianoforte1816
cottage piano1824
table piano1827
table pianoforte1827
tin kettle1827
grand1830
piccolo1831
Broadwood1832
semi-grand1835
pianino1848
cottage1850
square piano1853
street piano1855
upright1860
pianette1862
digitorium1866
Steinway1875
baby grand1879
square1882
tin pan1882
honky-tonk piano1934
minipiano1934
spinet1936
prepared piano1940
ravalement1959
rinky-tink1961
miniature1974
Mozart piano1980
1866 Times 14 June 15/6 (advt.) The digitorium (trade mark), an instrument for acquiring perfect execution on the pianoforte, or harmonium, in an incredibly short time.
1867 Subject-matter Index Patents 1866 266 Improved digitorium (a small instrument to strengthen the wrists and fingers, and in connection with pianoforte, organ and harmonium playing).
1921 Times 15 Jan. 1/3 Wanted, Digitorium.—State size and price.
1956 Musical Times 97 220/1 (advt.) Digitorium (dumb piano) for silent practice.
2003 R. Palmieri & M. W. Palmieri Piano 198/2 The nineteenth and early twentieth centuries brought about numerous inventions..for practice, hand guidance, and abstract exercise devices..such as practice clavier, digitorium..and legato monitor.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, November 2010; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1866