Manual

Yes, this is the instructional documentation that comes with your new hardware or software, explaining how to use it. But “manual” also has a more historically significant definition. On pipe organs, harpsichords, clavichords, and so forth, the term refers to the keyboard. It actually evolved over the years from the German word, manualiter, which roughly translates to “on the manuals”, which in turn means playing with the hands. A large pipe organ may have as many as four manuals, which would include three sets of black and white keys plus the pedals. Each of these would typically be coupled (or linked) to a set of stops, which would allow the player to access a variety of pipes, and thus create unique voicings.