Flutist: "Flutist" is the earlier term in the English language, dating from at least 1603, when it was used by Nathaniel Hawthorne in The Marble Faun. While the print version of the OED does not indicate any regional preference for either form, the online Compact OED characterizes "flutist" as an American usage.Richard Rockstro in his three volume treatise The Flute written in England in 1890 uses "flute-player."
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