Psaltery

Word of the Day for Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Psaltery \SAWL-tuh-ree\, noun:

1. an ancient musical instrument consisting of a flat sounding box with numerous strings which are plucked with the fingers or with a plectrum.
2. (initial capital letter) the Psalter.

Louise returned to her chair, and Eugénie took her psaltery from the floor, sat down and began to play.
-- Charles Gill, The Rich Woods, 2008

Then she heard music from beyond the arbor walk, a lighthearted turn on a psaltery...
-- Margaret Frazer, The Murderer's Tale, 1996

Psaltery came to English in the 14th century from the Greek psalterion meaning "stringed instrument."

 

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