the word 'spinet' entered english in the 17th century from the italian 'spinetta', which was a diminutive of 'spina', meaning 'thorn'. the connection to the instrument is debated but likely metaphorical. one prominent theory suggests it refers to the quill points (originally made of thorn or leather) which pluck the strings, a defining mechanism of the harpsichord family. another theory links it to the instrument's inventor, giovanni spinetti, though this is considered less likely by most etymologists. thus, the name captures a key physical characteristic of the instrument's sound production, evolving from a literal term for a sharp point to the name of the entire musical device.

the word is a simplex loanword. it is not productively formed from separable english morphemes.