jacks the keys of the virginals or virginal:
“those jacks that nimble leap,”
SONNETS, cxxviii. 5.
“The virginal jack was a small flat piece of wood, furnished
on the upper part with a quill, affixed to it by springs of bristle. These jacks were
directed by the finger-key to the string which was struck by the quill, then forced past
the string by the elastic spring, giving it liberty to sound as long as the finger rested
on the key. When the finger was removed, the quill returned to its place, and a small
piece of cloth, fixed on the top of the jack, resting on the string, stopped its
vibration”
(FAIRHOLT)
, and see virginals—The.
A General Glossary to Shakespeare's Works. Alexander Dyce. Boston. Dana Estes and Company. 1904.
This text was converted to electronic form by professional data entry and has been proofread to a high level of accuracy.
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