dulcimer

[ duhl-suh-mer ]

noun

1. Also called hammered dulcimer;. a trapezoidal zither with metal strings that are struck with light hammers.
2. Appalachian dulcimer ( def ).

dulcimer

/ ˈdʌlsɪmə /

noun

1. a tuned percussion instrument consisting of a set of strings of graduated length stretched over a sounding board and struck with a pair of hammers
2. an instrument used in US folk music, consisting of an elliptical body, a fretted fingerboard, and usually three strings plucked with a goose quill

Word History and Origins

Origin of dulcimer¹

First recorded in 1560–70; alteration of Middle English dowcemere, from Middle French doulcemer, dissimilated variant of doulcemele, from Old Italian dolcimelo, dolzemele, from Latin dulce melos “sweet song”; dulcet, melic

Word History and Origins

Origin of dulcimer¹

C15: from Old French doulcemer, from Old Italian dolcimelo, from dolce sweet, from Latin dulcis + -melo, perhaps from Greek melos song

Example Sentences

The costumes are cut in ornate antique styles, but dolled up with bits of electrical wiring, and the instruments, many hand-built, are seemingly a collection of whatever was left over when the world ended: percussion, trombone, fluegelhorn, flute, folk string instruments like the bandura and dulcimer, sighing accordions.

From New York Times

In the novel, formatted to echo sacred texts in its “tellings,” eight main characters include Risa McKeig, a Sanskrit student, and Lorilee Shay, who plays the mountain dulcimer.

From Los Angeles Times

He sticks primarily to keyboards, acoustic guitar and dulcimer.

From Seattle Times

“Desire” has Bono high in his falsetto against a strummy dulcimer and the effect is hypnotic.

From Seattle Times

But throughout his career he showed a knack for wringing emotion not only from the violin, mandolin, banjo, dulcimer and autoharp, but also from the Indian tanpura, the Middle Eastern oud and the Turkish saz.

From New York Times