boudoir grand: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Not exactly. A modern 'baby grand' refers primarily to the small size (typically under 5'5"). A 'boudoir grand' is a historical term for a similarly sized piano but one that emphasises its ornate, decorative cabinetwork and its intended use in a private, domestic room (the boudoir). All boudoir grands are small grands, but not all modern baby grands would be described as boudoir grands.

'Boudoir' is a French word for a woman's private sitting room or bedroom. In the 18th and 19th centuries, such rooms were often elaborately decorated. The piano designed for this space was therefore expected to be a beautiful piece of furniture first, matching the room's décor, hence 'boudoir grand'.

Modern piano manufacturers do not typically use the term 'boudoir grand' in their marketing. You can buy new small grand pianos, but they are marketed as 'baby grands' or by their specific model size. The term 'boudoir grand' is now mostly used in the context of antique, vintage, or historically-reproduced instruments.

In British English: /ˈbuː.dwɑː ˈɡrænd/. In American English: /ˌbuːˈdwɑːr ˈɡrænd/. The key is the first syllable: 'BOO' (like the ghost sound), not 'bow'. The 'oi' in 'boudoir' is pronounced like 'wah'.

A small, highly decorative grand piano, originally designed for use in a woman's private sitting room or bedroom.

Boudoir grand is usually technical/formal in register.