monochord

English

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin monochordon, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek μονόχορδον (monókhordon). By surface analysis, mono- +‎ chord.

Noun

monochord (plural monochords)

1. A musical instrument for experimenting with the mathematical relations of musical sounds, consisting of a single string stretched between two bridges, one or both of which can be moved, and which stand upon a graduated rule for the purpose of changing and measuring the length of the part of the string between them.
   • 1840, Elijah Coleman Bridgman, Samuel Wells Williams, The Chinese Repository, page 40:

     If a musician were going to give a lecture upon the mathematical part of his art, he would find a very elegant substitute for the monochord in the Chinese kin.

2. A stringed instrument with only one string.
3. A bass note on a piano that has a single string.

Synonyms

• kanon (used in the context of ancient Greek music)

Derived terms

• monochordist

Translations

Translations

• Finnish: monokordi
• French: monocorde (fr) m
• Irish: monachorda m
• Italian: monocordo m
• Polish: monochord (pl) m
• Russian: монохо́рд (ru) m (monoxórd)