zithern

zith·er  (zthr, z-) also zith·ern (-rn)

n.

A musical instrument composed of a flat sound box with about 30 to 40 strings stretched over it and played horizontally with the fingertips, a plectrum, or a bow, or set into vibration by the wind, as in the Aeolian harp.

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[German, from Middle High German *zitter, from Old High German zitera, from Latin cithara, cithara, from Greek kithar.]

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zither·ist n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

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 cither, zither dulcimer - a trapezoidal zither whose metal strings are struck with light hammers stringed instrument - a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound