dulcimer

dul·ci·mer  (dls-mr)

n.

1. A narrow, often hourglass-shaped stringed instrument having three or four strings and a fretted fingerboard, typically held flat across the knees while sitting and played by plucking or strumming. Also called Appalachian dulcimer, mountain dulcimer.

2. The hammered dulcimer.

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[Alteration (influenced by Latin dulcis, sweet) of Middle English doucemer, from Old French doulcemer, doulcemele, probably from Latin dulce melos, sweet song : dulce, neuter of dulcis, sweet + melos, song (from Greek melos).]

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dulcimer

Noun

a tuned percussion instrument consisting of a set of strings stretched over a sounding board and struck with hammers [Old French doulcemer]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	dulcimer - a stringed instrument used in American folk music; an elliptical body and a fretted fingerboard and three strings stringed instrument - a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound
	2.	dulcimer - a trapezoidal zither whose metal strings are struck with light hammers cither, zither, zithern - a musical stringed instrument with strings stretched over a flat sounding board; it is laid flat and played with a plectrum and with fingers