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psaltery Definition

psal·tery (sôl′tər ē)

noun pl. -·ter·ies

a stringed instrument of the zither family, popular esp. in 12th-15th cent. Europe, having a modified trapezoidal body and a variable number of strings plucked with the fingers of both hands or a pair of quills

Etymology: ME psauterie < OFr sautere, psalterie < L psalterium: see Psalter

psaltery Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • bow: The exact origins of the bowed psaltery are shrouded in the mists of time.

Noun used with modifier

  • snout: The picture here is of a bird sitting on what seems to be a cross between a box and a pigs snout psaltery.

Browse dictionary entries near psaltery

  1. ‹ psalterium
  2. ‹ Psalter
  3. ‹ Psalms
  4. ‹ psalmody
  5. ‹ psalmist
  6. ‹ psalmbook
  7. ‹ psalm
  8. ‹ PSA prepayment speed
  9. ‹ Psa
  10. ‹ ps
  1. psammite ›
  2. psammon ›
  3. PSAP ›
  4. PSAT ›
  5. PSC ›
  6. PSE ›
  7. psephite ›
  8. psephology ›
  9. pseud ›
  10. pseudepigrapha ›