zither

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zither

zither , stringed musical instrument, derived from the psaltery and the dulcimer . It has a flat sound box over which are stretched from 30 to 45 strings; these are plucked with the fingers and a plectrum. In the 18th cent. one or both sides began to be curved to produce greater sonority. The term zither is also used generically for various instruments, including the dulcimer, the psaltery, and several Asian instruments. The dulcimer in use in the Kentucky mountains is, in fact, a zither.

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zither

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Â© The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology 1996, originally published by Oxford University Press 1996. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

zither XIX. — G. zither (OHG. cithara, zitera) CITHER.
Also zithern XIX; after CITHERN.

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T. F. HOAD. "zither." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 8 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "zither." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (December 8, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-zither.html

T. F. HOAD. "zither." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved December 08, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-zither.html

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