Etymograph

English

pianist

Pianist comes from Italian piano.

  1. Italianc. 1300–presentpiano
  2. Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentpianista
  3. Frenchc. 1600–presentpianiste
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1987pianist

attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed

Earlier history not traced here.

Lineage

  1. Italianc. 1300–presentpiano
  2. Italian, derivedc. 1300–presentpianista
  3. Frenchc. 1600–presentpianiste
  4. Englishearliest quotation 1987pianist

Earliest quotation: 1987, Gordon H Bower: “Table IV shows that the pianists were significantly better…”

Formed from piano + -ist

Italian pianoforte ‘piano, pianoforte’

English piano

Linked words

through Italian piano

piano, 2 more

Today it means

noun A person who plays the piano, particularly with skill or as part of an orchestra.

Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.

Etymograph / Italian piano / pianist

Shirt and support for this word