PIANO-FORTE, noun [Latin planus, plain, smooth; Latin fortis, strong.] A keyed musical instrument of German origin and of the harpsichord kind, but smaller; so called from its softer notes or expressions. Its tones are produced by hammers instead of quills, like the virginal and spinet.
Source: Webster's 1828 American Dictionary ↗ · public-domain · returned verbatim, no AI