Where did the name piano come from?

The name "piano" is an abbreviation of the Italian word "pianoforte", which means "soft-loud". This refers to the piano's ability to produce both soft and loud sounds, which is achieved by pressing the keys more or less forcefully. The term "pianoforte" was first used in the early 18th century by the Italian instrument maker Bartolomeo Cristofori, who is credited with inventing the first piano.