Home > Baker's Student Encyclopedia of Music > Jack

In the HARPSICHORD and CLAVICHORD, a thin, upright piece of wood on the rear end of the key lever. On the harpsichord, it holds a bit of crow quill or hard leather set at a right angle so as to pluck or twang the string. On the clavichord, it carries a metallic TANGENT (small piece of metal) to strike the string. 2. In the PIANOFORTE, the ESCAPEMENT lever, or hopper.